Chalabi set to become Iraq's PM, says Dan Senor

[Cocoa]

Senor, aka Campbell Brown's boyfriend, sounds here like a spokesman for Chalabi...

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1108610313049

Ahmed Chalabi is likely to emerge as Iraq's leader, as originally envisioned by the US, Dan Senor, the former spokesman for the US occupation government in Iraq, told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.
"He has a good chance of getting the job," said Senor.

<snip>

According to Senor, Jaafari would probably have been assured of the post if Chalabi had not pushed – and succeeded – to get an internal vote of all the list members. Originally, the top leaders of the parties within the list were going to decide between themselves.

"Chalabi believes that if there's an up or down vote of the 141 members he has a better chance of winning," said Senor.

More…

[yellowcanine]

1. So a known liar and convicted con man and international fugitive will

be PM of Iraq? Perfect. What happens if he visits Jordan and they arrest him?

[wryter2000]

5. Don't forget

Spy for Iran.

Good going, Whistle Ass.

[hopein08]

14. Men like him...

are in power here in the US right now. Forget Iraq, concentrate here.

Maybe the Iraqis will get lucky and he'll go to Jordan and be arrested.

[despairing optimist]

26. Diplomatic immunity. He's a head of state.

Not only won't the Jordanians arrest him; they'll give him the red-carpet treatment, especially since he'll have the blessing of * & Co.

[Athame]

36. Why not?

He fits right in with his US counterparts.

[hedda_foil]

2. Let's read between the lines a bit.

Up or down vote = everybody has to state their preference openly.

Secret vote = everybody votes for whom them wish.

They had been planning a secret vote. If Chalabi is likely to win on an up or down vote, what are the odds that the US is applying heavy arm-twisting to ensure just that, and to make sure anyone who doesn't want to vote for him knows what consequences he'll face?

[htuttle]

3. LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!

LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!
LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!
LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!
LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!

Can imagine what Iraq is going to be like if Chalabi steals the vote?

LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!
LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!
LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!
LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!

Help me! I can't stop!

LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!
LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!
LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!
LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!

(thud...)

[Fenris]

7. I second your sentiments.

In the immortal words of Nelson Muntz, "HAH-HAH!"

[Solly Mack]

13. Let me third'em

Cause I L'dOL when I saw the headline...

[KamaAina]

16. Ummmm.....like America after Bush** stole the vote?

Can imagine what Iraq is going to be like if Chalabi steals the vote?

Oh, right: we have WMD and they don't.

[davekriss]

27. Incredible, isn't it....

I enjoyed your post, especially the exasperation shared by your final remark "(thud...)".

Chalabi becomes PM; GWB, after engineering a repeal of Presidential term limits (on Diebold black boxes), wins a third term; the earth spins violently into the sun...

just another day's evil, isn't it...

:(

[solinvictus]

29. Repeal of term limits....

think about what you just said. That means the Big Dawg can come back and run, and he enjoys more goodwill all over the country than the Chimperor.

[davekriss]

35. The Big Dawg...

...wouldn't stand a chance when more than 60% of the vote (and surely growing every year) is counted by black box voting machines manufactured by companies owned and operated by arch right wing fanatics. It would be GWB 50.9, the Big Dawg 49.1...

It's not the people who vote that count. It's the people who count the votes.
--- Joseph Stalin

Note, however, that the only reason I think Bush was able to steal the last election is the Rovian Wurlitzer managed to manufacture enough actual votes to make a Bush win seem plausible.

[Carl Brennan]

37. Oh!! WOw!! so cool.

:eyes:

[jswordy]

4. Beware the Jerusalem Post, it tends to hype stuff...

...that later doesn't happen. Yes, it will be an embarrassment to the U.S. if Chalabi gets PM. But let's wait and see if it really happens. The Post likes to raise the adrenaline of its Israeli readers. I take their stuff with a grain of salt until otherwise confirmed.

[Cocoa]

6. it's a rag

and it's proabably backing Chalabi, and slanting its coverage in Chalabi's direction.

But that's interesting in itself, as is Senor's aligning with Chalabi.

[muriel_volestrangler]

40. And Senor is now a mouthpiece for Rupert Murdoch

http://www.newshounds.us/2005/02/14/fox_news_hires_dan_senor.php

"Linda Vester announced today (February 14, 2005) on Dayside w/Linda Vester that Fox News has hired Senor as a "Fox News contributor.""

[davekriss]

28. Thank goodness! (n/t)

[spanone]

8. As Gomer would say, 'Surprise, Surprise. Shizamm'

Did anyone actually doubt that this criminal wouldn't participate?

[daleo]

9. $300 billion is a lot, just to replace one Bush stooge with another

If BFEE eventually decided Saddam couldn't be trusted, I think they will quickly come to the same conclusion about Chalabi. Oh well, they have new wars to fight in Syria and Iran.

[Roland99]

10. Beware the violent repurcussions if that puppet gets the nod

[VegasWolf]

11. Senor tought the war would be over in months too. I wouldn't believe

anything I hear from this administration. When Iraq announces
it, then we will know.

[susu369]

31. Off topic - but here's a "fun" pic of Senor with Dina Powell and friends

http://here-now.org/shows/2005/02/20050214_2.asp



Marit David, Dina Powell,
Kristen Silverberg,
Dan Senor & Pamela Theissen

[Brooklyn Michael]

12. Prepare Now

Ladies and gentlemen, start your blogging....

If Chalabi is indeed chosen as Iraq's PM (and I pity the poor bastards if he is), we need to have an IMMEDIATE response. His shady background, his association with BushCo., his dealings with Iran,....all of it. This guy's as crooked as the day is long, and we cannot let * get out ONE speech on how this is an "historic moment" for Iraqis...:think:

[leftchick]

15. Hey Danny since we are talking about Iraq...

Do you know where the missing 9 BILLION is??? Scumbag...

Is spongedan squarehead REALLY dating Campbell brown? OMG I'm gonna vomit....
:puke:

[AValdoux]

17. It's friday, Bad News Day

It's probably Chalabi. They are waiting until after the Prime News Schedule to release it.

What will the Iraqi reaction be? Don't they hate Chalabi? I guess a civil war gives us a good reason to stick around and enjoy our bases and new embassy.

AValdoux

[htuttle]

18. I'm not sure you would be able to call it a civil war

I mean, EVERYBODY in Iraq hates Chalabi, not just the Sunnis. The Shiites hate him too.

Who would be on Chalabi's side in a 'civil war'? Just the US military and some Peshmerga mercenaries, I'd guess...

[Cocoa]

22. I agree with the timing

today would be a great day to make the announcement.

[Beetwasher]

19. Can Someone Explain To Me How The Shiite's Won, But Chalabi Becomes PM???

Seriously, how does that work? WTF??? INC is Shiite???

[leftchick]

20. Ibrahim Jaafari will be PM according to more knowledgable sources

This is from Juan Cole's site.. http://juancole.com/

Tony Karon of Time profiles Ibrahim Jaafari, who will most likely be the new prime minister of Iraq. He says


' . . . Jaafari is a “Shiite modernist,” according to an AFP profile carried in the Tehran Times. He has signaled a moderate Islamist position on questions of religion and the state, advocating that Islam be constitutionally recognized as Iraq's official religion and a source (but not the sole source) of legislation, and that no laws will be passed that contradict Islamic values. At the same time, he favors protection of minority religious and ethnic groups, and insists that the first priority of a new government is not only to be as inclusive as possible of those who participated in the election, but also to draw in those who stayed away — almost half the eligible population (42 percent), including the vast majority of Sunnis . . . The U.S. is now faced with negotiating a relationship with a new government that reflects limited U.S. influence, and whose leaders enjoy historic ties with Iran.


The AFP profile notes,

' When talks were under way last February over the drafting the fundamental law which serves as Iraq's interim constitution, Jaafari was among those champions who favored Islam as the only source of legislation. But he has distanced himself from a hard line. "Secularism originally meant opposing God and religion. Now it is not the same. Islam has changed too. It is different from country to country," he said earlier this month. "It is true that some countries stop women from attending schools and others do not let women drive. For me that would be a problem . . ." Despite having been one of the first to organize demonstrations opposing the presence of U.S.-led troops on Iraqi soil, earlier this month he admitted their necessity -- for the time being. "Despite their presence here in Iraq, terrorism exists," Jaafari said. "Can you imagine what will happen if we ask them to leave? This could mean the beginning of a civil war." '

[Rex]

21. The biggest failure controls the White House.

Why shouldn't Iraqi's get their version of our rat? That's what they want. It's always so sad when they run out of uses for these rats. They just kill them off and get someone new. Our version of this guy is Negroponte. Sad.

[yebrent]

23. I thought I heard on AA yesterday... (don't know exactly when)

Someone speculated that many of Iraq's new representatives are only claiming to support Chalabi as a negotiation tactic for who they really want as PM. As in, "If you don't support X, then I will be voting for Chalabi." No one in Iraq really expects Chalabi to win except maybe Chalabi. Everyone in Iraq hates him. The only reason he is still in the game is the money he has ripped off from Jordan and the US. Remember, the Pentagon was supporting his Iraqi exhile group while Chalabi was supplying bogus information. Plus, probably his share of the $9 billion missing.

It was also strongly speculated that the US negativity for Chalabi last year was most likely an attempt to give him credibility within Iraq. If you noticed lately, all the arrest and search of his residence stuff seemed to have disappeared since the election in Iraq.

on edit: It could have been NPR's All Things Considered.

[shadowknows69]

24. Saddam Mark II

[Larkspur]

25. Chalabie PM? Baseless propaganda according to Juan Cole

http://www.juancole.com/2005/02/shiites-have-majority-iraq_110867151708965021.html

Ibrahim Jaafari of the Dawa Party seems almost certain to win the prime minister slot. In my view the persistent reports that Ahmad Chalabi is still in the running are baseless propaganda coming out of Chalabi's formidable but empty PR apparatus. I take it he wants an important cabinet post, and this is his way of staking claim to it.

[Disturbed]

30. Sorry off topic but is ...

Chalabi's cousin, who was one of the trial judges of Saddam, still under murder charges?

[Zynx]

32. Jpost is a tabloid rag

This is not LBN.

[DU GrovelBot]

33. ## PLEASE DONATE TO DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND! ##

==================
GROVELBOT.EXE v3.0
==================



This week is our first quarter 2005 fund drive. Democratic
Underground is a completely independent website. We depend almost entirely
on donations from our members to cover our costs. Thank you so much for
your support.

[No Exit]

34. AAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

This is the best burlesque I've ever watched!!!

(But... ewww... Dan Senor... the very mention of him makes one's skin crawl.)

There could be no more perfect leader, than "Paper Moon" Chalabi, for what is a sham government, rising out of a sham war, made by a sham administration, which perpetrated sham "newscasts" on us. (We're the sham "free people".)

[The_Nick]

38. Perfect.

Now that Chalabi will be the "democratically elected president" of Iraq, we can sell them more chemical weapons and send them to war with Iran. Then ten years later we can tell them we aren't interested in their envasion of an independant neighbor. Then when they invade we can bomb their infrastructure and set them up for ten years of sanctions. Then we can again falsely accuse them of having the chemical weapons we sold them (but they already used up), and repeat the whole thing! Sounds awesome!

[clem_c_rock]

39. Well - guess that proves it. Anyone want to stand up and tell the

class this wasn't predictable and why in 50 words or less?