jojo

New biography of shadowy Iraq figure Chalabi recalls ties to McCain

Ahmed Chalabi, former deputy prime minister of Iraq, is the subject of a new biography that reportedly reveals some shocking new examples of Chalabi's scandalous role in US foreign policy.

Considered by some to be a neo-con "darling," Chalabi is best known for his role in pushing questionable evidence in the run-up to the US invasion of Iraq, including since-debunked claims dealing with biological weapons laboratories from the Iraqi defector code-named "Curveball."

RAW STORY has covered other events in Chalabi's colorful past as war cheerleader, including his re-entry into US policy-making in 2006 when it was reported that he had taken over a role as broker between the US Ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, and Iranian officials. In early 2007, RAW STORY also reported that Chalabi was moving into a new role as part of the so-called "surge" in Iraq.

Among the revelations disclosed in the biography by Emmy award-winning journalist Aram Roston, The Man Who Pushed America to War: The Extraordinary Life, Adventures and Obsessions of Ahmad Chalabi, are that Chalabi "helped arrange meetings with the Iraqi oil minister for American oilmen like Bush fundraiser Albert Huddleston."

Chalabi also reportedly "misled a team of reporters from ABC News and British publications by arranging interviews with 'Saddam's Mistress,' Parisoula Lampsos, who peddled countless lies about a meeting between Hussein and Osama Bin Laden" and was initially backed by Sen. John McCain, "one of the first patrons of Chalabi's grand-sounding International Committee for a Free Iraq when it was founded in 1991."

Regarding McCain, Roston adds that he was "Chalabi's favored candidate in the 2000 election since Chalabi knew that he would be able to free up the $97 million in military aid plus millions pushed through in Congress and earmarked for Chalabi's exile group, the Iraqi National Congress."
The funds were held up, however, by the Clinton administration's State Department, Roston writes.

More on the Chalabi biography can be read at this link.

But will anyone even care?

Let me start off by saying that in 2000 I said, 'Vote for me. I'm an agent of change.' In 2004, I said, 'I'm not interested in change --I want to continue as president.' Every candidate has got to say 'change.' That's what the American people expect." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 5, 2008

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Bourne

Your source, Raw Story, is akin to the National Inquirer. I don't buy any of it without an independant credible source.

jojo

Probably true - however, it is a book so it's kinda hard to sustain an outright lie. I haven't found any really good independent sites so I take from the entire spectrum, and compare.

I always assume Chalabi and mcCain had some sort of ties - I mean the repubs put a lot of credibility in the guy, pretty much invading on the basis of his lies (I mean credible info).

Let me start off by saying that in 2000 I said, 'Vote for me. I'm an agent of change.' In 2004, I said, 'I'm not interested in change --I want to continue as president.' Every candidate has got to say 'change.' That's what the American people expect." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 5, 2008

Blueneck

Isn't he wanted for embezzlement in Jordan or something like that?

Pretty much everything I say was pulled directly out of my ass so you might want to put some gloves on before you play with it.

Bourne

You won't find any corroboration from a credible source because none exists.

An assumption is a guess. It is not proof.

jojo

Ah, so you don't assume there were no ties?

Let me start off by saying that in 2000 I said, 'Vote for me. I'm an agent of change.' In 2004, I said, 'I'm not interested in change --I want to continue as president.' Every candidate has got to say 'change.' That's what the American people expect." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 5, 2008

jojo

A few more sources - Chalabi McCain - Google Search

Let me start off by saying that in 2000 I said, 'Vote for me. I'm an agent of change.' In 2004, I said, 'I'm not interested in change --I want to continue as president.' Every candidate has got to say 'change.' That's what the American people expect." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 5, 2008

jojo

Here's a good on;

n a November 2003 profile, the Post contrasted the views about Chalabi expressed by Bush administration critics like Lang with those of supporters like Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and former CIA director James Woolsey. Lang opined that Chalabi was "a fake, one of the greatest frauds ever perpetrated on the American people"; McCain called him "a patriot who has the best interests of his country at heart"; and Woolsey said, "He's a class act" (Washington Post, November 24, 2003).

Right Web | Profile | Ahmed Chalabi

Let me start off by saying that in 2000 I said, 'Vote for me. I'm an agent of change.' In 2004, I said, 'I'm not interested in change --I want to continue as president.' Every candidate has got to say 'change.' That's what the American people expect." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 5, 2008

Bourne

We're talking about besmirching someone's character. I would never do so based on assumptive speculation.

jojo

Nor would I - I prefer research. Bourne - I live in AZ - he's been my senator since god was 2 - most of this stuff is well known locally. I've voted for the man more times than you have - I actually like him, but he's not a saint.

Let me start off by saying that in 2000 I said, 'Vote for me. I'm an agent of change.' In 2004, I said, 'I'm not interested in change --I want to continue as president.' Every candidate has got to say 'change.' That's what the American people expect." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 5, 2008