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| Iraq-Jordan | ||
| Chalabi Named Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq | ||
| 2005-04-29 | ||
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Thwarted in his bid to be Iraq's leader, one-time Pentagon favorite Ahmad Chalabi has nevertheless captured a key position in the new government - a deputy prime minister's spot and temporary control of the lucrative oil ministry. With his nephew also installed as finance minister, Chalabi and his family appear to have a firm grip on the country's purse strings.
It was a spectacular comeback for the Shiite Arab lawmaker, who fell out of favor with Washington over accusations he leaked intelligence to Iran and supplied flawed evidence that Saddam was hoarding weapons of mass destruction. Whether Chalabi remains in charge of oil for months or a week - all eyes will be on him. "Having two close members of the same family in two key economic ministries may raise questions for the Iraqis and those who want to do business in Iraq," said Judith Kipper, director of the Middle East Forum at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations. The incoming finance minister, Ali Abdel-Amir Allawi, 58, was a consultant to the World Bank and headed a London-based investment company called Pan-Arab. Like his mathematician uncle, he is an MIT graduate. But his supporters play down his ties to Chalabi, noting he is also related to outgoing Prime Minister Ayad Allawi. "The allegations against Chalabi will not affect him," Shiite alliance lawmaker Saad Jouwad Qandil said of Ali Abdel-Amir Allawi. Chalabi's standing with Iraqis was tenuous when he returned home in 2003 under the patronage of the United States. Using a private militia, he took over an exclusive social club in an affluent Baghdad suburb and made it the headquarters for the Iraqi National Congress, the anti-Saddam movement he headed in exile. Since then, Iraqi security forces have raided his offices and militants shot at his convoy. Chalabi's return from political exile began to take shape when he volunteered to mediate a truce with radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose militia battled U.S. troops in two separate rebellions last year. Left out of the interim government by then U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer, Chalabi decided to build his support base among other Shiites. Chalabi promised that if he became prime minister, he would drop murder charges against al-Sadr. He also spearheaded a drive against members of the former regime who had returned to positions in the interim government.
The outgoing government is bedeviled by allegations of corruption within its ranks. With fresh elections slated before the end of the year, analysts warn some incoming officials could be tempted to use their short time in office for maximum financial gain. "The day that the new government takes over a new test begins for everyone," Kipper said. "This is an absolutely critical period for the future of Iraq, and we have to see who in the Cabinet is going to look forward for Iraq, and who is going to be concerned with their personal success." | ||
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #2 Its a hit piece on Chalabi, the interim government, the new government and the entire effort to democratize Iraq. Chalabi got elected in fair elections. The whole article oozes with the resentment of the MSM that they are not in control of what is happening in Iraq. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2005-04-29 5:04:32 AM |
| #1 "No political base" my ass. |
| Posted by: someone 2005-04-29 3:48:06 AM |