Iraq winners more than U.S. bargained for

[liberal N proud]

Many in newly elected government are closely allied with Iran
ANALYSIS
By Robin Wright

When the Bush administration decided to invade Iraq two years ago this month, it envisioned a quick handover to handpicked allies in a secular government that would be the antithesis of Iran's theocracy — potentially even a foil to Tehran's regional ambitions.

But, in one of the greatest ironies of the U.S. intervention, Iraqis instead went to the polls and elected a government with a strong religious base — and very close ties to the Islamic republic next door. It is the last thing the administration expected from its costly Iraq policy — $300 billion and counting, U.S. and regional analysts say.

<snip>
And current Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, backed by the CIA during his years in exile and handpicked by U.S. and U.N. officials to lead the interim government, came in third.

[mopaul]

1. Doh!....Homer Simpson goes to war.........

a horrific comedy of errors.

historians will look back at these days with jaws dropping.

[The Traveler]

4. "I didn't do it"

We can expect them to whip out the Bart Simpson defense any minute now.

If this were confined to the screen, it would be hilarious. Oh. My. In a country with a 60% Shiite population democratic processes have produced a result that leans toward Iran. I can hear Condorlizard now:

"None of us imagined that they would vote for a bunch of Iran-leaning, Islamic law imposing clerics."

[Stockholm]

2. link? n/t

[leftchick]

3. I think this article is BS

The US/CIA still have their back-up stooges in the wings. Does anyone really think they layed all their money down on allawi? I sure as hell don't...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050214/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_politics

Snip...

"This is a great victory for the Iraqi people," said Ahmad Chalabi, a former Pentagon (news - web sites) protege and member of the Shiite ticket who is lobbying for the prime minister's post. "We will have an assembly which is elected by the people and the government which is completely legitimate and elected by the people."


Other leading contenders for the top post include fellow Shiites Ibrahim Jaafari, a vice president; Finance Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi; and former nuclear scientist Hussain al-Shahristani.


Abdul-Mahdi told al-Arabiya the next Iraqi government is burdened with "difficult and complicated responsibilities that require national unity and the wide support of the national assembly," and the presidency. He said his alliance is "seeking to realize a wide national harmony in choosing" for those positions.


....Finance Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi is the one to watch.

[izzie]

5. I do not think this will stop Bush and Co from taking what they want.

Bush 'knows' he is right.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

6. Clenis is obviously the culprit n/t