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December 02, 2003
Iraq - yet more Chalabi manipulation
Once again, The Financial Times displays essential reporting, although the headline is deceptive:
Saddam's backers to be denied contracts
By Nicolas Pelham in Baghdad
Published: November 28 2003 18:12
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1069493580581&p=1031119383196
Now many might well say, well what is wrong with that? Well everything as we shall see from the article as our little corrupt slimey deciever Chalabi (actually a fairly large man) is running his own star chamber.
"Businessmen seeking to win contracts in Iraq will be vetted for ties to the former regime, Ahmed Chalabi (pictured), a prominent member of the US-appointed interim Governing Council said in an interview.
Mr Chalabi chairs the Governing Council's Higher Committee for de-Ba'athification. Formed in September, this has expanded its work from rooting out senior functionaries of the former regime to implementing what he calls "a programme of economic de-Ba'athification".
Super. Purges, political vetting of contracts, closing of politicaly inconvenient Arab TV stations. Why we are well on our way to a fine little Egypt on the Euphrates. Blisteringly good pace to establishing yet another pseudo-democracy with pseudo-secularism.
Better:
"The committee is one of the most powerful in the Governing Council. Although the policy of de-Ba'athification was first instituted by Paul Bremer, the US administrator in Iraq, Mr Bremer last week told a press conference that he had handed over responsibility for implementation to the committee."
Excellent Paul, excellent. Hand more power to Chalabi.
And best yet:
"The committee says its economic role will be to "collect information about businessmen and merchants to prevent them dealing with Iraq in the future". Mr Chalabi said it would also aim to recover the wealth from "between 10 and 15 per cent" of the Iraqis who he said benefited from the Ba'ath regime."
Good political expropriations based on one committee's 'investigations.'
The article helpfully notes:
"Critics of de-Ba'athification have attacked the programme as revenge-driven. Iyad Allawi, a fellow member of the Governing Council who has also returned from western exile, has called the plan "dangerous", and declared he was boycotting Mr Chalabi's committee.
Mr Chalabi's opponents worry that his de-Ba'athification committee has few checks and balances, and that it could be used selectively to favour his associates and undermine business rivals. He insists, however, that the motives for de-Ba'athification are a "moral issue"."
Right indeed, a moral issue from Chalabi, serial defrauder.
This is the best part:
"We will not stand for any committee members making benefits of any person," said Mr Chalabi.
The article rather goes one with more disingenous agitprop Chalabi spews for the pre-fooled. At least he knows what shit they will eat gladly.
Posted by The Lounsbury at December 2, 2003 10:29 AM
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Jan-Dec 2003
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