[Marxism] Chalabi and Sistani

["Marvin Gandall" <marvgandall@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Today’s Independent examines the widespread public influence of Iraqi
cleric Ali Sistani, but less well known is the hidden power being
amassed by Pentagon favourite Ahmed Chalabi reported by the conservative
Washington Times.

Times columnist Arnaud de Borchgrave says “Ahmad Chalabi is rapidly
emerging as the most powerful Iraqi since Saddam Hussein”, even though
he is popularly dismissed as an American puppet and corrupt businessman,
and distrusted by most of his colleagues on the Iraqi Governing Council.

According to de Borchgrave, Chalabi not only runs Iraq’s new
intelligence service, he has also gained control of the emerging levers
of economic power – the finance, economic, and oil ministries, the state
central and trade banks, and the largest commercial bank. In addition,
he has placed relatives in key bureaucratic posts and distributed
lucrative contracts to his Middle Eastern and American business friends.

De Borchgrave is undoubtedly reflecting the CIA’s long-standing alarm
about tying US fortunes to Chalabi. The Independent article describes
why Sistani is regarded as a more legitimate if less reliable bet by a
large part of the US intelligence and security establishment.

Both articles reproduced on www.supportingfacts.com

Sorry for any cross posting.


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