Posted on 01/21/2005 3:44:43 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Authorities will arrest prominent politician Ahmad Chalabi after the current Islamic religious holiday for allegedly defaming the Defense Ministry, the defense minister said Friday.
Legal proceedings against Chalabi are to begin after the Eid al-Adha holiday ends Sunday, Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan said.
Shaalan's statement followed allegations by Chalabi that the defense minister shifted $500 million from the ministry. That has led to charges and countercharges by the two Shiite politicians, who are running for parliament on separate tickets in the Jan. 30 national elections.
"We will arrest him and turn him over to the Interpol," Shaalan told Al-Jazeera television. "We will arrest him based on facts. He wanted to tarnish the image of the Defense Ministry. ... He wanted to tarnish the reputation of the defense minister because he is frank and clear. One of those who want to commit crimes against the Iraqi people is Ahmad Chalabi."
Chalabi could not be reached for comment.
Last year, a judge issued a warrant for Chalabi's arrest for allegedly counterfeiting money but the charges were dropped.
Al-Jazeera quoted Shaalan as saying Chalabi would be turned over to Interpol because of his 1992 conviction in absentia by a Jordanian court for embezzling funds from a Jordanian bank, which collapsed in 1989.
Chalabi, who founded the bank, has denied any wrongdoing and says the charges were fabricated because of his opposition to ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
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Not sure about this one.
Thank God Bush opted for Allawi instead of Chalabi. Something about Chalabi just reeks of corruption.
I think maybe this guy missed the Inauguration Address yesterday.
Um, I don't think this is really too smart to do right before the election.
Maybe Chalabi was going to get too many votes.
Just think what Rumsfeld could do with one.
Just think what Rumsfeld could do with ....that..... one.
Trust me. Chalabi is a crook. He may have been our crook for a while, but the days of our keeping crooks around are pretty much over. Now, former crooks are a different matter. President Bush understands that redemption is possible.
No matter what Chalabi may or may not be, this doesn't sound like a very good precedent.
This is why I proposed a long time ago making one of our conditions for helping these new governments that they put all of the provisions of our Bill of Rights into force in the their new constitutions. This story would seem to fly in the face of what we consider to be the God-given unalienable right to free speech.
('Course, it would be nice if we could get our tyrants-in-black-robes to implement those same provisions...)
Well there was something about proceedings.....
Got to go .......be back later.
I think this demonstrates how difficult the road ahead will be. It would be easy to support extraditing someone who is wanted for embezzling from a bank, but the stated reason for the extradition is that he accused someone in the Iraqi government of mismanaging (or worse) $500 million.
The implication is that if he had kept his mouth shut about the Iraqi official, he would not face extradition. Some justice system, eh?
Chalabi probably fabricated intelligence used to send us to war. I feel he is on his own. We owe him nothing. If he's corrupt then send him to Interpol. Actions speak louder than words in a situation like this.
"We're going to arrest you in 3 days time and put you in an Iraqi jail" - the 10th time this has been leaked out.
IE. we don't want you around. please flee the country so we don't have to go through any criminal proceedings.
Could work one of these times.
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