TPM: Chalabi to get the heave-ho (WP)

[nostamj]

There is a sobering, though also oddly encouraging article about Iraq in Saturday's Washington Post -- actually an odd mix of sobering and encouraging. The topic is the new Iraqi government now being planned and organized jointly by the US and the UN and the fact that the decision has been made to toss overboard most if not all of the folks we put on the Interim Governing Council.

At the top of the list of those to get the heave-ho is Ahmed Chalabi.

According to the article, the administration is seriously considering cutting off the amazingly ill-conceived $340,000 a month subsidy we still give Chalabi. Meanwhile, his role as head of the de-Baathification committee has just been publicly criticized by Paul Bremer.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com

[trumad]

1. Heave ho right into jail I hope

There finally catching on that this guy is the con man of the century.

[NewJeffCT]

2. and his nephew?

The one that is heading Saddam's trial? what about him?

[otohara]

11. Shocking Isn't It?

do the Chalabi's have some dirt on Jr.? or Poppy?

[robbedvoter]

3. Huge PNAC defeat (flip flop?)

Clark was foreshadowing this when he said: Chalabi cannot do anything in Iraq unless he severs his ties with the Pentagon - which was a diplomatic way of saying : "It won't fly"

[leftchick]

4. 4 MILLION a Year?!?

and they are only CONSIDERING cutting it off?!? This is unfuckingbelievable!! :grr:

[huckleberry]

5. Will Chalabi write a tell-all book?

Chalabi must be really ticked off at this latest turn of events. Maybe he'll take it out on cheney and company.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

20. Yeah, all we need..

..is Ahmed Chalabi on our side. :)

[Ilsa]

6. The children being educated under IDEA could use that money.

Thank the Goddess, someone might be coming to their senses. Getting rid of Chalabi is one of few good ideas of this disastrous war plan, IMO. He is a liar and a thief.

I am facing a battle with my autistic child's school, an elementary school at that (the battles usually start in middle school), over him getting the assistance he needs as we plan for next year. The issue is simply money, and that Texas has a school funding problem, and the US govt doesn't fully fund IDEA. Giving $340,000 a month to that sonofabitch Chalabi is a travesty of priorities.

[nostamj]

7. "a travesty of priorities"

pretty much sums up the ENTIRE bushco agenda doesn't it?

[kalian]

8. Yup...but I think its because he called the US "Nazis"....

there was an article just the other day where he alluded to the US's
tactics and behaviors as being "nazi like".
Just remember folks...Chalabi provided the "cheering Iraqis" that
"greeted" the US troops and that participated in the toppling
statue "ceremony". If this guy is thrown over the side...he could add
some viciousness to the resistance.

[nostamj]

9. yes, that and bringing the ba'athists (sp?) on board...

[Gin]

10. I bet his annual salary was just for him...and we suckers in the US

also paid for his army.

[LandOLincoln]

12. He shouldn't be thrown over the side--he should be handed

over to Jordan for trial on the embezzlement charges.

They could throw in his rotten son as a bonus...

[calimary]

14. Might he not try to "show his former benefactors a thing or two"

now that he's no longer their "fair-haired boy"?

Like a woman scorned, perhaps? Sometimes the most deadly revenge comes from a jettisoned former insider (who may have a whale of an axe to grind)...

Or might he resolve that, if he goes down, he's taking a few of them with him? This may grow more and more intriguing.

[Cat Atomic]

18. I'm no expert, but Chalabi seems like a

big mouthed little brother to me. You know- the sort that makes a lot of noise because they know their big brother will back them up.

I think he'll bolt the second he finds out his Uncle Sam isn't going to handle his fights for him. Just my personal opinion, of course.

[Ms. Clio]

13. Blame everything on their stooge, Chalabi--yeah, that's the ticket

It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

His next stop should be a Jordanian prison cell.

[calimary]

15. They better grab this guy before he comes up with his own

"golden parachute."

Somebody who's grown accustomed to the style of living and manipulation that a 300-THOUSAND DOLLAR PLUS - PER MONTH stipend can buy will not react well to having that money yanked. He could become their worst nightmare if they don't grab him and contain him while they still can. This guy probably plays a mean game of hardball, and he's got all that secret police stuff now, too. YIKES.

I'm wondering if he'll turn out to be just another monster they've created, only one now determined to play nasty since his back's up against the wall.

As I said, YIKES. This guy is probably not gonna go quietly. Especially with the track-record of lying, scheming, thieving and blackmailing that he's built for himself.

[Ms. Clio]

16. you are probably right that he won't go quietly

But I don't think he has any real power base in Iraq, since he was away for 23 or so years? I think his only supporters are hired hands like the rent-a-crowd that pulled down the statue?

I just wish he'd rat out his PNAC masters, but that will probably never happen.

[LandOLincoln]

19. Like I said: let Abdullah deal with the SOB. Kill two birds

etc.

Get rid of a NeoCon pet, make nice with Abdullah--who I consider to be our strongest ally in the ME. (Can't f'ing believe these fools have actually managed to alienate Hussein's son/Lisa Halaby's stepson...)

also assume/hope Kerry and his people are denying backchannel what they seem to be supporting up front. Notice "seem."

It's called realpolitik. Anyone who has a problem with the real world, read The Prince and get back to me.

In the meantime, having a real good time imagining both Arafat and Sharon in the dock in The Hague.

Poco a poco...

First we get elected.

[kentuck]

17. Symbolic gesture.....

to the Iraqis that we are ready to surrender our initial "plans"and work with them to form a new government...