Political Skullduggery

Ahmed Chalabi, a long-time favorite of the neo-cons and the Pentagon, failed to garner enough votes in the Dec. 15 Iraqi elections to win even a single seat for himself or his bloc in the National Assembly.

It has been a series of ups and downs for Chalabi, who has been credited with having an influential role in persuading the United States into it's ill-fated endeavor in Iraq.

Before the dust of the U.S. invasion had even cleared, the Pentagon flew Chalabi into occupied Iraq over the objections of the State Department. Later, before the "transfer of authority" to the Iraqi people, Chalabi's headquarters was raided by American forces on suspicion of spying for Iran. More recently, he has somehow returned to the good graces of the American powers in Iraq.

Chalabi, a convicted fraudster in Lebanon, was hoping to obtain a position dealing with banking in the new Iraqi government. It now looks as if this hope will be dashed due to his poor electoral showing.


Chalabi Lacks Votes Needed to Win Spot in Iraqi Assembly


Update: My pessimism about Chalabi's job prospects in the new Iraqi government appear to have been unfounded. On Dec 30, Chalabi was awarded the position of Oil Minister. No opportunities for graft there. Ho ho ho.