Randy, I believe Chalabi does have support inside Iraq. He's
certainly supported by the Kurds and that's important, and by shia
groups (the shi-ite Moslems form the majority in Iraq, although it's
ruled by the Sunni minority). Chalabi's is the only group promising a
multi-racial democracy, free elections and the rule of law. The CIA
hates him, and they are the source of a lot of the propaganda you
read in the West about Chalabi. I'd urge you to read Nick Cohen's
article at
http://www.observer.co.uk/comment/story/0,6903,684005,00.html Nick
Cohen is a leftwing journalist in the UK, political editor of the
Observer, well to the left of Tony Blair (in fact, has been a major
thorn in Tony Blair's side for many years), but above all he's a
radical democrat and so he supports the war and Chalabi. (If you do
read this article, it's actually two articles, but the website
doesn't make that clear. One minute you're reading about Iraq, then
it slides into CCTV cameras in the UK.)
Wouldn't it be a good thing if Iraqi oil meant we were less dependent
on Saudia Arabia and OPEC?
Anyway, it's now looking doubtful that the U.S. will support Chalabi.
The CIA seems to be getting its way.
Sarah
At 4:48 PM -0800 02/17/2003, Randy Remote wrote:
And you say this guy is the best choice we have? Chalabi's INC has
no support from the main opponents of Saddam within Iraq. Chalabi
is a MIT trained banker born into a wealthy family with close ties to
monarchy installed in post WWI Iraq by the British. He has lived in the
west and does not enjoy recognition by the Iraqi public. His role is
to enable the US oil companies to seize Iraqi oil, and he has openly
said so. His allies in Washington plan to denationalize Iraqi oil and
parcel it out to American companies.
