In an interview on the CNN before the Election, Wolf Blitzer asked John Negroponte this question:
MR. BLITZER: One of those Iraqi politicians you referred to is Ahmed Chalabi, once a favorite among many officials here in Washington, now very, very controversial, despised by some. Is he a good guy or a bad guy, from the U.S. perspective?
Negroponte answered
AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE: Well, I don’t — I have no comment on that. What I can say is that Mr. Chalabi is on the list, the United Shia list. He is well placed on that list and therefore I think he has a very good chance of being elected to the National Assembly. So it seems to me that he will be playing a role in the political future of his country for some time to come.
Read it here
Chalabi took this answer as a green light, although his unpopularity among Iraqis, this Maser thief is still insisting that he is the best candidate as Free-Iraq’s first PM.
For the first time a professional thief with string of convections in crimes behind to be prime minister, Saddam was learning on the job, this guy will follow in his footsteps.
I was amazed when Nigroponte said Chalabi will be on the next Iraqi government, although the US has not so long ago called Chalabi a double agent, and exposed his dirt, he should clear him self really before get into any political work .. since he didn’t then there is something wrong.
Chalabi don’t deserve to be a PM, not an official in the new government and not even washing dishes in any governmental building.
Yes, that’s an interesting reversal. I wonder what/how much he has on Bush.
AMEN LADYBIRD! If only we could keep him out of the government somehow. It’s very depressing to see that he will be a part of Iraq’s future.
:(
lim
Whats the option? That guy from the Islamic dawa as PM? Brrrr.
Whats the option? That guy from the Islamic dawa as PM? Brrrr.
What I don’t get is how did the other Iraqis on the list agree on having him onboard? Many Iraqis I talk to do not trust this guy at all, don’t we have any such Iraqis in government? Or is it that they think Iraqis deserve such a criminal to represnet them? I wonder why, I mean I can’t get it, it just does not make any sence at all unless they are as criminal as he is or what .…
Chalabi may be many things — but dumb isn’t one of them.
If he wins PM slot it will have nothing to do with US policy. If he is really so bad, how was he allowed on ‘sistani’s’ list? Not just on the list, but in one of the top slots that guaranteed him a position because everyone knew the list would do well. He has a PhD in mathematics from top US university. He is a reaaaaallllly smart cookie. He is veeeeeery ambitious.
Is this good or bad? I don’t know. Smart does not necessarily = good.
From what I understand, average Iraqis don’t like this guy. Does he have much support among the people?
If he doesn’t have real support among people, I think it would be mistake to give him PM job. Now is the time for reconciliation which requires compromise and trust. He may prove too divisive.
Yeah, the guys a jerk. But it is now up to the Iraqis to decide. Thats the way freedom works. I think Negroponte was just expressing that.
Chalabi is not a US supported shoo-in, for sure. On the other hand, if he is as corrupt as he is alleged to be, he can run for Governor of Louisiana and win big.