Survivor (Ahmed Chalabi)

Opinion Journal.com ^ | 7/7/07 | MELIK KAYLAN

[Valin]

One of Iraq's most controversial politicians offers thoughts on the "surge," Iran and where we go from here.

________________________

BAGHDAD--"these people need help. The army must help them more. The government must help them more. They have been fighting alone against a vicious enemy, fighting for all of us to make our country safe."

I'm in Diyala province, watching Ahmed Chalabi shouting into a TV camera over the sound of mortar shells. He's imploring the Iraqi state to support tribesmen fighting off al Qaeda attacks such as the one we're now experiencing.

In the end our entourage, which had driven from Baghdad for lunch with local leaders, escaped unharmed. But the episode showed--as so many events in his turbulent past few years have--that Mr. Chalabi is hardly the transient opportunist that his detractors at the State Department, CIA and on the antiwar left once made him out to be. He's still in Iraq, despite long ago losing whatever American support he once had and failing to win a seat in the last parliamentary election. (He was deputy prime minister in Iraq's first elected government.) And almost alone among the Iraqi political figures, he not only lives but travels widely outside the Green Zone.

Last month, I spent some days in Mr. Chalabi's company in and out of the capital, and at his residence in a well-fortified warren of cul-de-sacs in the wealthy, but dangerous, Mansour district. Though he's not in the current Maliki government, he is still courted by the state and given key appointments. He heads up the De-Baathification program and the Committee for Public Support of the "surge," which engages in reconciliation activities like reopening Sunni mosques in Shiite neighborhoods. Community leaders from all sides troop through his doors daily.

[sure_fine]

chalibi is just another extortionist

[Son House]

“The army must help them more.”

The ‘surge’ will be over soon, and the ‘people’ will be responcible to take over then.

Link to read articles;

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=1&id=4&Itemid=21

Saturday, 07 July 2007 IA delivers medical supplies to Diyala
Saturday, 07 July 2007 MNF-W forces attacked
Saturday, 07 July 2007 Apache crews kill insurgents after attack on base
Saturday, 07 July 2007 Iraqi National Police, MND-B troops respond to car bomb attack in Baghdad
Saturday, 07 July 2007 4 terrorists killed, 9 suspects detained in Coalition operations
Saturday, 07 July 2007 MNC-I Soldier dies of non-battle related cause
Saturday, 07 July 2007 IED ring broken by Operation Bastogne
Saturday, 07 July 2007 Improvised explosive device strikes MND-B patrol
Friday, 06 July 2007 Correction to Release 20070702-23: Additional soldier charged with murder
Friday, 06 July 2007 MNC-I Soldier killed in combat operations
Friday, 06 July 2007 1-30th Inf. brings in wanted insurgent suspect
Friday, 06 July 2007 Three killed, eight detained in morning operation
Thursday, 05 July 2007 Two suspected al-Qaeda leaders, 7 others detained in Coalition raids
Thursday, 05 July 2007 Six Suspected Terrorists Detained and One Killed by Coalition Forces in Two Separate Raids
Thursday, 05 July 2007 UPDATE: Task Force Lightning Soldier killed
Thursday, 05 July 2007 Baqouba Tribal Council meets to address concerns
Thursday, 05 July 2007 MND-B patrol struck by explosive formed projectile
Thursday, 05 July 2007 Project for Iraqi’s farmers
Thursday, 05 July 2007 Iraqi Air Force delivers water, displays proficiency
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 Operation “Iron Blitz” captures 25 insurgents in June
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 Task Force Lightning Soldier killed
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 MND-B Soldier killed during combat operations
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 Iraqi Army Forces destroy IED factory near Karmah
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 IA, CF detain two, remove IED-making materials from Mosul neighborhood
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 National Police defeat Al Qaeda attack
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 Coalition Forces net 12 suspects in Adhamiyah
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 Sha’ab car bomb kills 5 Iraqis, wounds 20
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 OP Geronimo Strike finds al Qaeda safe houses
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 MND-B aircrews destroy possible car bomb
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 Coalition Forces kill 25, detain 5 and uncover caches in Diyala
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 Tal’Afar police recruitment adds ethnic diversity to force
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 Iraqi Security Forces Detain Insurgent Religious Leader in Mosul
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 Coalition Forces kill 10 terrorists, detain nine suspected terrorists
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 MND-B aircrews thwart rocket attack on IZ
Tuesday, 03 July 2007 Operation Eagle Venture IV detains nine terror suspects
Tuesday, 03 July 2007 Task Force Marne pilots rescued from downed helicopter
Tuesday, 03 July 2007 CF destroy homemade explosives factory
Tuesday, 03 July 2007 Coalition Forces combat extremist fighters
Tuesday, 03 July 2007 Non-hostile related accident
Tuesday, 03 July 2007 Helicopters conduct precision air strike
Tuesday, 03 July 2007 Iraqi Police Forces capture rogue extremist leader in Babil Province
Tuesday, 03 July 2007 Detainee dies from apparent natural causes at Bucca
Tuesday, 03 July 2007 3 terrorists killed, 29 suspects detained in Coalition operations
Monday, 02 July 2007 Intense attack on Ad Diwaniyah is met with Air strike
Monday, 02 July 2007 2 terrorists killed, 8 suspects detained in Baghdad raids
Monday, 02 July 2007 Task Force Lightning Soldiers attacked
Monday, 02 July 2007 Task Force Lightning Soldiers attacked
Monday, 02 July 2007 Iraqi Special Operations Forces capture Amir of al-Qaeda in Karada
Monday, 02 July 2007 Additional Soldier charged with murder
Monday, 02 July 2007 ISF, CF ensure Baqouba safe for local residents

Link to read articles;

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=1&id=4&Itemid=21

I can’t believe anyone take all this ground, only to abandon it.

Democrats will defund Military soon, they can’t help themselves,
with all the Republican support they get.

[PGalt]

Thanks for posting.

[nuconvert]

“I understand the U.S. has worries about Iranian power so here’s a solution,” he continues. “Let us quantify and monitor the amount of Iranian influence:”
“Iraq needs as many friends as possible and nobody wants to be dependent on one source of help. Everything can be worked out.”

And therein lies the problem with Chalabi.

[Valin]

“Iraq needs as many friends as possible and nobody wants to be dependent on one source of help.”

I agree. The question is, are the Mullahs in Tehran really friends. I’d say yes...in the sense that a wolf wants to be friends with a sheep.
The Mullahs may be many things...stupid is not one of them. They understand just what a stable free Iraq would mean for their rule.

[nuconvert]

Exactly. And that’s why I don’t trust what Chalabi says

[Burr5]

I guess the U.S. was right on target when we raided this guy’s office. Doesn’t have a very substantive defense against the accusation either.