Who is Ahmad Chalabi?

The Jerusalem Post - ^ | 4-12-03 | Max Singer

[Steve Eisenberg]

Good article. What is doesn't get into is that the left has been getting up a campaign to install Chalabi into its cabinet of villains, almost in the same category with Ashcroft and Wolfowitz. If Chalabi ever becomes Iraq's freely elected prime minister, they'll be saying that Gult War II resulted in Iraq becoming a US puppet state. Proof: Just look at this news story. If the Israelis like him, he's got to be a war criminal!

Of course, there is a whole back story concerning allegations that Chalabi looted Jordan's Petra Bank. Chalabi says that the Jordanians wanted him to use bank money to fund the INC, then got cold feet when Saddam threatened retaliation on Jordan.

This anti-Chalabi thing sounds silly -- even if Chalabi kept some of the looted money for himself, which I doubt, the Iraqi people have a right to vote for the lesser evil just like we do. Hopefully will considered who hates Chalabi and why before we consider dumping him.

[Support Free Republic]

Attention!

Our troops give so much of themselves, and we all benefit from their efforts.

The next time you look at your bank balance, why not find some way to take some money and put it towards supporting the members of our armed services in some way? Maybe find a family who has someone serving, and buy them dinner, or some groceries, or a gift for their children? Maybe find a way to contribute to a fund for the memory of any of those who have fallen? Our armed forces deserve our support in tangible ways.

[dwilli]

Time for the State Dept. to throw this guy over the side. He will be bad news in a hurry.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Forgive to obvious question, but what is the domain name of Iraq's version of Free Republic?

[shhrubbery!]

Richard Bey, one of the few liberals left on WABC radio, was recently smearing Chalabi's name all over the map.

But hallelujah, Richard Bey has been replaced with the fantastic conservative babe, Monica Crowley.

(I doubt this has anything to do with Bey's vicious repetition of slanders against Chalabi -- most likely it was due to poor ratings.)

[EggsAckley]

Not sure I understand your negativity about this guy Chalabi.

[JasonC]

The article says "All these Arab governments and their friends have been spreading slanders about Chalabi to the State Department and the CIA. Those agencies have come to see him as a destabilizing force in the region."

While both sentences are true, the implied connection between them isn't quite right. State and CIA intensely dislike Chalabi and always have. But the reason is that he speaks quite directly of their past games in the region, their cynical deals, their policy mistakes, their backstabs and sellouts.

He has been consistently pro democracy and anti Saddam for over 30 years. The US State department and CIA can't say as much about *themselves* (leave aside other regional rulers). And they are embarassed about it, so they play smash mouth with the messenger. What they hate about Chalabi is that he refuses to shut up about, among others -

Backing Iraqi Baathists to give Egyptian nationalists competition
After Egypt became tractable, supporting Kurdish rebels working for the Shah and trying to overthrow Saddam
then selling them out to work with Saddam when Iran had its revolution
supporting the war by Iraq against Iran
selling out the 1991 rebellion after Gulf War I
wasting the 90s trying to get a new Baathist tyrant via coup
Calling Iraqi democrats useless dreamers and insisting only a tyrant could run the place

It is not exactly an honorable history, for day to day policy decisions down at the departments, as opposed to the interventions at the level of the president or congress.

The root cause of State and CIA distaste for Chalabi is the oldest Washington bureaucrat's game - CYA...

[dwilli]

I think he wants to be the Shah of Iraq. The fact he is trying to tell the US military what to do doesn't bother you?

[EggsAckley]

No. I was under the impression that we WANT Iraq to rule itself, not be ruled by the American military. But gosh, maybe I'm wrong........

[dwilli]

Did we leave Japan or Germany right after V-J and V-E day?
Do you really think this massive ego can keep any sort of peace between the three major tribes in Iraq? Do you think He wants to? In my humble opinion there will have to be a government set up in Iraq that keeps all three tribes reasonably content, less we have a lot of US military
coming into Dover, Del in those horrible dark bags.

[S.O.L.]

Chalabi is definately not the state department's guy.

Unlike the state department, he appears to be interested in establishing a democracy in Iraq. The state department and the CIA want a strong man that they can initially control just as the tried in Iran with the Shah, and with their later support of Saddam Hussein himself.

The state department knows a democracy in Iraq will cause problems with all their established friendly dictators in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and throughout the middle east. They would prefer the middle east situation continue as is - it gives them a chance to further practice their pathetic diplomatic skills.

[a_Turk]

Minor wrinkle: Chalabi is wanted in Jordan for defrauding and embezzlement of funds at a bank he once owned. I think he was sentenced to something like 20 years, but had already escaped..

Was it Napoleon, I think, had once said: To be a great leader one has to be petty and righteous? Petty to gain power, and righteous to retain it. I think that's how it went..

[SJackson]

Minor wrinkle: Chalabi is wanted in Jordan for defrauding and embezzlement of funds at a bank he once owned. I think he was sentenced to something like 20 years, but had already escaped..

Is that still active? I thought it was dropped, but if not, kind of interesting that a "new Iraq" won't be able to enter into an extradition treaty with Jordan, or I suspect a number of other countries.

[Cachelot]

Not sure I understand your negativity about this guy Chalabi.

Give Chalabi five years and you'll have a new Saddam. He's already travelling with an entourage of thugs. He has to go.

[dwilli]

He's certainly not the CIA's man, they have blasted him
as being a blowhard. Who is his patron then. It must be the State Dept. Someone allowed him in country.

[a_Turk]

>> Is that still active?

last I read about a week ago in the Independent (?I think it was?) it was..