I'm not sure about Chalabi. I wouldn't write him off without more evidence. He was badmouthed and possibly framed by rogue clintonoids in the CIA and the State Department. It is said that they were angry because he was the candidate of the U.S. military governor and his advisors, and State and CIA wanted to run the show.
The CIA has a dreadful record in Iraq. We would never have caught Saddam or his top advisers if military intelligence hadn't taken over and pushed the CIA to one side--which of course they resented.
Plus much of what we know has been filtered through the liberal press, always delighted to publish leaks from clintonoids in the CIA. So why not give Chalabi a chance to prove himself, if indeed he is chosen to lead?
Cicero -- But DOD soured on him too. He definitely carries a lof of baggage. Maybe it will turn out okay, but there are a lot of people in the govt. who are not at all liberal who don't trust Chalabi at all. At the very least, he is a slippery character. Maybe that's what's needed at this time.
At this point, I don't think anybody is giving anybody a chance- he is either their choice or not, the ball is rolling down the hill. Usually, conspiracy theories are fun but futile, unless you make them up yourself. This fellow is not good for us but that may be their choice.