U.S. ally Allawi may be shut out of Iraqi government

[sabra]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0601030242jan03,1,5464713.story

U.S. ally Allawi may be shut out of Iraqi government
Shiites want pro-West politician's role cut

BAGHDAD -- The victors in last month's parliamentary elections indicated Monday that they are prepared to cut a secular politician favored by Washington out of the new government in favor of Iraq's main Sunni Arab party.

The pro-Western politician, former interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, did poorly in the Dec. 15 election despite spending heavily on a sleek television campaign.

"Allawi is a red line," said Baha Araji, a member of the leading Shiite Muslim political bloc and a loyalist of radical cleric Moqtada Sadr.

...

Shiites are insisting that Allawi be barred from the coalition. Sadr loyalists, who played an important part in the Shiites' election success, despise Allawi because he allowed U.S. forces to launch attacks against them in summer 2004.

[soothsayer]

1. Whoopsie! See, that's why we don't allow real voting here.

[wishlist]

2. Seems like I read that billions went missing from oil profits under Allawi

The Bush gang's scheme for a puppet govt in Iraq seems to have fallen apart, but it is no surprise considering the corruption and lack of reconstruction under U.S. leadership.

[KansDem]

3. I thought Allawi was to be Minister of Oil?

I knew he received something like less than 1% of the vote, but that he would become oil minister. That' really what the Bushistas wanted all along: to control Iraqi oil. One might believe that having a puppet in charge of the oil fields is just as good.

And who was Allawi's campaign manager?
...Allawi, did poorly in the Dec. 15 election despite spending heavily on a sleek television campaign.

I thought Iraq is having extreme difficulty keeping power on for the entire country. How can you get your "message out" if no one has a working TV?

[MGKrebs]

5. That was Chalabi.

And I am not sure if Chalabi is a good guy or a bad guy this week.

:hippie:

[KansDem]

6. Thanks...

I misplaced by "corrupt-politicians scorecard" last week and have not been able to keep up with info on the Bushistas' puppets, both in and outside the U.S.

[CoffeeCat]

8. Isn't Chalabi Judy Miller's old boyfriend? (nt)

[CoffeeCat]

7. I thought it was Chalabi who was going to be Minister of Oil?

I might be totally wrong, and I apologize if I have the names incorrect.

I thought that I recently read---that the Minister of Oil resigned, due to high
gas prices, and that Chalabi would take over.

I could be wrong.

[papau]

4. Sunnis Bargain for Iraq Role as Allawi Fades

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq3jan03,0,6693025.story?track=tottext

From the Los Angeles Times
THE WORLD
Sunnis Bargain for Iraq Role as Allawi Fades
Ascendant Shiites and Kurds hint that a deal to form a new governing coalition may exclude the U.S.-favored secular politician.
By Borzou Daragahi
Times Staff Writer

January 3, 2006

BAGHDAD — The victors in last month's parliamentary election indicated Monday that they were prepared to cut a secular politician backed by Washington out of the new government in favor of Iraq's main Sunni Arab slate.

The pro-Western politician, former interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, did poorly in the Dec. 15 balloting despite spending heavily on a sleek television campaign.

"Allawi is a red line," said Baha Araji, a member of the leading Shiite Muslim political bloc and a loyalist of radical cleric Muqtada Sadr.

Araji and other negotiators from the main Shiite slate spent much of Monday night engaged in talks with the National Accordance Front, a Sunni Muslim Arab coalition led by Islamists and clerics. The president of Iraq's northern Kurdish region, Massoud Barzani, embraced Sunni Arab leaders there.

The emerging political alliance lumps together Shiites, Kurds and Islamist Sunni Arabs — and excludes secular Iraqis, hard-core Sunni Arab nationalists and those sympathetic to the Baath Party of ex-dictator Saddam Hussein.<snip>


<snip>
The Shiites have set up a seven-member steering committee to enforce discipline across their unwieldy coalition. They have also created ground rules for joining the new government, including commitments to denounce political violence, uphold the constitution ratified Oct. 15 and support the removal of former Baath Party members from public life.

U.S. officials had hoped the political process would stem the insurgency, but the new Shiite rules appear likely to alienate the Sunnis and Iraqi nationalists who drive the insurgency.

Shiites, especially those loyal to Sadr, also insist that Allawi be barred from the coalition. The onetime CIA protege and American favorite, a secular Shiite who was a Baath Party member long ago, has emerged as the hope of the Iraqi intelligentsia as well as the man with whom U.S. officials are most comfortable.

<snip>

[Dongfang Hong]

9. Well, yeah, he's a secular pro-Western guy.

No need for that in the new Iraq.

Now, Chalabi, on the other hand...

[HuffleClaw]

10. well, they aren't stupid.

no point on keeping such an obvious us stooge around, though i'm still wondering how chalabi managed to stick around too. you'd think he'd be the first one they'd want to turf.