Chalabi Changes Role After U.S. Fallout (Peacemaker)

[maddezmom]

NAJAF, Iraq - Shunned by his former American backers, Ahmad Chalabi is reinventing himself, bowing out of high-power bargaining over a new Iraqi government to attempt to play the role of peacemaker in this holy Shiite city.


The goal of the former exile seems to be to garner support among Iraq (news - web sites)'s Shiite Muslim majority and win friends among the powerful religious hierarchy ahead of a possible run in national elections in January.


Chalabi could also profit from criticism from Washington — including allegations he passed secret information to Iran — by bolstering his image among Iraqis fed up with the U.S. occupation.


So a man accustomed to the halls of Congress and the executive suites of international bankers is now negotiating with turbaned Shiite clerics in the baking heat of this dusty city south of Baghdad.
~snip~
more:http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040603/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_reinventing_chalabi&cid=540&ncid=1480

[Dover]

1. I seriously doubt the Iraqis have such short memories or so few

scrupples about Chalabi's D.C. connections.

[UpInArms]

2. wonder what the extradiction procedures will

be for Iraq and Jordan?

[mmm]

4. I would love to drive him there personally!

I'll even pony up for gas.

[mmm]

3. We saw this coming from a mile away

Bush wants to put Chalabi in power but Iraqis hate him (so do I, actually). To this end, we demonized him for the
benefit of the Iraqi people. Sadly, he is the same old piece of shit
he has always been.