U.S. contractors' role in Iraq (Chalabi) raid still fuzzy

[salin]

U.S. contractors' role in Iraq raid still fuzzy
Posted on Sun, May. 30, 2004

State Department confirms DynCorp's presence

By Scott Shane

Baltimore Sun


When Iraqi police raided the Baghdad home and offices of politician Ahmad Chalabi on May 20, U.S. officials hurried to distance themselves, saying the operation was an Iraqi affair and no U.S. government employees were involved.

But eight armed American contractors paid by a U.S. State Department program went on the raid, directing and encouraging the Iraqi policemen who eyewitnesses say ripped out computers, turned over furniture and smashed photographs.

more: http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/nation/8799564.htm

So - Dyncorps shows up in the story... aren't there alleged links between the CIA and Dyncorps? The raid, it does appear, was instigated by the Iraqis... but did the CIA want to be there to see what they could get/glean.. and if so - could this be more of the CIA vs Neocon posturing?

on edit - clarification - this is about the FIRST raid, not todays raid.

[maddezmom]

1. hmmm, bremer and tenet working in cahoots?

:shrug:

[salin]

3. No idea

it is always possible that they were just providing "security" as many of the contractors seem to do (of course they often then receive troops to protect them...) It could just be... nothing. Or it could be... a little clue as to some of what looks to be so murky that we can't make heads nor tails of it.

[Dover]

2. Wasn't Chalabi quick to say it was the Iraqis who raided his home?

Seems like if he was really upset about this, he would have pointed out the American contractors' role. But instead he seemed to be sticking to the same story as Rumsfeld and the neocons that this was an Iraqi-led raid.

And recent reports regarding the Iraq selection of leaders seems to indicate that Chalabi is still very active (despite his alleged Iran connections).

So I'm not sure what to think about the raid.

[salin]

4. Curious that he was the subject of another raid... earlier today

really hard to figure out what is going on behind the curtain.