Ahmed Chalibi, New Leader for Iraq?

[Hutch]

At least, he is in the running to become the Prime Minister, supposedly trailing Ibrahim Al-Jaafari among the Shia Unity parties. But he could still be the man when the political horse (or maybe camel)-trading is done. And won't that make the complex Iraqi politics even more Byzantine.

Chalibi is a convicted felon (albeit in absentia in Jordan and he denies the charges), he led the Iraqi National Congree who provided at least some of the intelligence about Iraq (much of it now known to be wrong, especially on WMD), and has gone from sitting next to Barbara Bush to pariah (that's what bad intelligence and having a vacation villa in Iran will get you).

This could get interesting.

 

[hgc]

It's almost a he-broke-it-he-bought-it situation for him. Since he's largely responsible for leading Bush's much vaunted foreign policy team down the primrose path (I'll admit, they were more-than-willing supplicants), he should get to be premier for a while and try to stay alive.

 

[Bikewer]

Sy Hersh's analysis of Chalabi is scathing indeed; electing him may well be the best way to go. Talk about a target...

 

[demon]

Chalabi as president of Iraq?...Team Negroponte as head of US Intelligence?...you got to wonder what the hell the world is coming to don`t you?