Shiites Pick Al-Jaafari As Iraq PM Nominee

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=2&u=/ap/20050222/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_politics_11

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Interim Iraqi Vice President Ibrahim al-Jaafari was chosen as his Shiite ticket's candidate for prime minister Tuesday after Ahmad Chalabi dropped his bid, senior alliance officials said.


Al-Jaafari's selection means he likely will lead Iraq (news - web sites)'s first democratically elected government in 50 years. But first he has to be approved by a coalition that likely will include the Kurds, and then he must be approved by a majority of the newly elected National Assembly.


Pressure from within the ranks of the United Iraqi Alliance, which won Iraq's landmark Jan. 30 election, forced the withdrawal of Chalabi, a one-time Pentagon (news - web sites) favorite, said Hussein al-Moussawi from the Shiite Political Council, an umbrella group for 38 Shiite parties.


"They wanted him to withdraw. They didn't want to push the vote to a secret ballot," al-Moussawi said.

[Magleetis]

1. Looks like Booosh

got his man in. "He also said calling for the immediate withdrawal of coalition troops would be a "mistake" given the lack of security in Iraq". If this guy gets elected Booosh gets to stay and kill some more.

[underpants]

2. Looks more like Sistani got his man

They would have never had the elections if it hadn't been for Sistani forcing (read: Playing) Bush to hold them.