Former exile Chalabi lobbies Congress for aid

[Barrett808]

WASHINGTON — Ahmad Chalabi lobbied Congress Wednesday for billions in aid to the new Iraq he has spent years trying to bring into reality.

Chalabi, 58, is close to Pentagon conservatives and the most well-known of the Iraqi exiles who opposed the regime of Saddam Hussein. He said in an interview that it is important not to focus on the "details" of a $20.3 billion reconstruction package, including millions to train Iraqis in computer skills and to build a monument to Saddam's victims.

"It's not useful to detract from the overall bill because of these reservations," he said. "It is in your strategic interest to have Iraq realize its full potential as ... something new and different in the Middle East."

Chalabi is one of nine rotating presidents of the U.S.-appointed Governing Council. He acknowledged that the council had not been consulted in drawing up the U.S. aid package. He and other members of the body have urged the United States to transfer more authority to Iraqis to counter growing opposition to the U.S.-led occupation.

Chalabi said aspects of sovereignty should be transferred quickly, including a greater Iraqi say in dispensing oil revenues.

He said that Iraqis should be able to meet an informal U.S. target of six months for writing a new constitution, to be followed by a referendum and elections for a new government within a year.

"We need to balance speed with political representation," he said.

...

On other topics, Chalabi:

• Said reports that a handful of Iraqis and U.S. companies were profiting unfairly from contracts for Iraqi reconstruction were "blown out of proportion." Chalabi's nephew, Salem, has opened an office in Baghdad to facilitate foreign investment and is working with Marc Zell, a former law partner of Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith.

(more)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-10-01-chalabi-interview_x.htm

[bif]

1. Chalabi is a criminal

Just like this administration. Not to be trusted.

[underpants]

2. I hear he is really good with other people's money

Not that he is good at returning it but he knows what to do with it.

[Gin]

3. He stole from Jordan...why not the US?

he's taking maximum advantage of the situation....I feel like
punching his face when I see it. I guess I need to take a deep breath.

[underpants]

5. He was NPR yesterday-When confronted with a NYT article

that discredited something he said (I can't remember what it was) he said it sounded like a Jason Blair story. He actually said that.

It was a remarkable liefest he had going there. Maybe NPR has a link on their site.

[DulceDecorum]

7. RE: punching Chalabi

I went over to this site:
http://www.urban75.com/Punch/index.html
Just for you.
I am sorry to report that Ahmed Chalabi is not yet up on the punch list but you can most certainly nominate him.
In the meantime, there are a few others who could do with some of you attention.

[Gin]

9. hey thanks....I feel a bit better....punched a shrub more than anyone..

if we can put chalabi, rumsfeld, cheney and the rest of the cabal up there I would feel a lot better.

[Wickerman]

4. What, he can't find one of Saddam's palaces to move into?

[revcarol]

6. Does anyone else wonder

how he affords the life-style he is currently experiencing?....trips to Washington, DC, (when our troops have to pay their own way), expensive Washington, D. C. hotel rooms...

Could it be that the American taxpayer is still supporting him and his armed band of thugs? Inquiring minds want to know.

Oh, and we can't worry about stuff like a mere $15 BILLION, because we know that he will spend it well to get more contracts.

Who cares if we buy $14,000 pick-up trucks for $32,000 each?Those U. S. grifters will invest it in jobs for 'Muricans, won't they?

[acmavm]

8. How funny, the fruitcake that "fed" the White House bad intelligence now

wants us to fork over billions of dollars to be spent under his supervision. Hey, this is a really trustworthy guy, give him the money. He would never do anything illegal, just ask the Jordanians.

[teryang]

10. Truuuuuuuuuust Me, America

Would I lie to you? He was visibly grimacing as the House whip went on about the prior government debts not being valid because it was illegitimate and didn't represent the people. Does that mean that contractual obligations to an appointed government without the consent of the Iraqi people are legitimate? He is obviously smarter than the rethugicans he's been taking for a ride.

I have a vision of Chalabi being dragged through the streets of Iraq behind a car while crowds line the streets cheering and burning flags.

[IndianaGreen]

11. Chalabi is no more an Iraqi than a Miami gusano is Cuban

Chalabi left Iraq when he was 8 years old. He is in his 50s now. He is no more an Iraqi that a Miami gusano is Cuban.

Chalabi should be deported to Jordan to face trial for embezzlement.

[qanda]

12. Hey, Jordan Officials...

over here. We'll hold him till you get here.