Is $300K enough to become next Iraqi prime minister?
By on Aug 24th, 2007 at 11:14 am
Is $300K enough to become next Iraqi prime minister?
IraqSlogger reports that Iyad Allawi, believed to be positioning himself to be Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s successor, “is paying Washington lobbyists with close ties to the White House $300,000 to help with Allawi’s efforts in the U.S. to promote himself and undermine Maliki.” Former intel official Bruce Reidel raised further questions about Allawi’s funding: “He doesn’t have that kind of money. … Somebody’s paying for it, and it’s not him.”
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Beginning to sound like some sort of bizarre reality TV show. I’d say it’s funny, but it’s not.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:15 amAHA — Iraq IS becoming more like the United States if the job of running it is for sale. Only the price tag to become the Prime Minister of Iraq is still a relative bargain at $300K — the price tag of OUR presidency is millions upon millions.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:18 amNope that money is too small, but his holding hands sexually with Bush might get him what he wants > lol.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:18 amCertainly the White House sells important ambassadorships, so why not the presidency of our puppet government?
August 24th, 2007 at 11:20 amThe Republic of Stupidity
Iraqi Idols, the Presidential edition?
August 24th, 2007 at 11:20 amDoes anyone really believe that Bushco’s not behind this? They want to get rid of Maliki because he’s too independent; he’s the one who said that the U.S. can leave anytime now, we Iraqis have got it covered, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Bushco doesn’t need a politician, they need a puppet. Allawi’s CIA and neocon connected, and Cheney’s still trying to keep his bloody claws on Iraq’s oil. But they can’t publicly get rid of Maliki because it would be another (so many) sign of their failure and the hopelessness of the mission. I wonder if Maliki’s going to “commit suicide” or die in a helicopter crash soon.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:21 amThat’s some of the $8.8 billion stolen US assistance funds to Iraq. Barbour/Griffifth probably has it sitting in an offshore bank account.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:21 amWonder if this payment is coming from some of the missing money in Iraq?
August 24th, 2007 at 11:21 amShow of hands:
How many think Allawi is getting his money from “wealthy expatriates”?
How many think Allawi is getting his money from the CIA or other United States government source?
August 24th, 2007 at 11:21 amyes, saddam lite…. i thought murder was illegal?
August 24th, 2007 at 11:21 amThat’s the American way!
August 24th, 2007 at 11:22 am$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Bush will invest millions with the Iraqi army to make Allawi the Dictator Bush needs to gain the Oil
August 24th, 2007 at 11:22 amyes, saddam lite…. i thought murder was illegal?
Comment by Fan_of_Man — August 24, 2007 @ 11:21 am
Not if it is in the name of NeoCon nation building …. then ANYTHING is legal, according to the BushCo Handbook of Criminal Behavior
August 24th, 2007 at 11:23 amExactly what loyal officer corps does Allawi plan to use to stage his coup?
Even if he does manage to come to power, I give him six months before military and/or interior ministry folks loyal to SCIRI or Da’wa dispose of him.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:24 amThe whole mess has me “twisting in the wind”.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:26 amHow many think Allawi is getting his money from the CIA or other United States government source?
Comment by missmolly — August 24, 2007 @ 11:21 am
It would be illegal for him to receive U.S. government money from the CIA or otherwise. But there’s nothing preventing the CIA from, say, negotiating with the Saudis for a donation to the Allawi campaign in exchange for, say, $20 billion in weapons.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:28 amremember Friday, 13 Jul 2007
Iraqi Lawmakers Pass Resolution That May Force End to Occupation
The parliament today passed a binding resolution that will guarantee lawmakers an opportunity to block the extension of the U.N. mandate under which coalition troops now remain in Iraq when it comes up for renewal in December
The law requires the parliament’s approval of any future extensions of the mandate, which have previously been made by Iraq’s prime minister. It is an enormous development; lawmakers reached in Baghdad today said that they do in fact plan on blocking the extension of the coalition’s mandate when it comes up for renewal six months from now.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:32 amAllawi is CIA
Ayad Allawi:
The CIA’s Main Man in Baghdad
PATRICE CLAUDE / Guardian Weekly (UK) 23jul04
http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2004/Allawi-CIA-Baghdad23jul04.htm
August 24th, 2007 at 11:37 am“According to Samuel Berger, Clinton’s security adviser, Allawi had succeeded, unlike Chalabi, in gaining the confidence of Arab powers in the region, was well considered by those who mounted the operation, and seemed less interested in self-aggrandisement than his cousin. By mid-January 1996 the operation was up and running. The CIA came up with $6m, as did Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Jordan provided the venture’s rear base. The coup would be carried out by the army.”
August 24th, 2007 at 11:40 amhttp://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2004/Allawi-CIA-Baghdad23jul04.htm
Allawi probably got some of that money from the wallets of the men he handcuffed and shot in the head. Someone should tell him that shooting people in the head is a qualification for being Vice-President not Prime Minister.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:45 amhttp://www.mindfully.org/ Reform/ 2004/ Allawi-CIA-Baghdad23jul04.htm
Comment by Dermot — August 24, 2007 @ 11:40 am
Oops! Looks like the CIA trained Saddam Hussein – our other operative in Iraq – a bit too well.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:45 amComment by toasterhead
Saddam, Allawi, Noriega, Luis Posada Carriles,etc….etc…etc. Animals and all in the name of freedom. Yeah right.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:53 amWho’s Behind “Allawi-for-Iraq.com”?
IraqSlogger reports that on August 17, White House-connected lobby powerhouse, Barbour Griffith & Rogers (BGR), purchased a domain name, Allawi-for-Iraq.com.* http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2007/08/5274_whos_behind_all.html
And Toasterhead – You told me to shut up, which I won’t do. I will tell you the truth whenever and wherever I can, and you will listen, and some day you will be able to handle the truth. You’re not mature enough yet. So don’t tag along on my coattails. Come up with your own quotes and sources.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:56 amAahh… isn’t democracy a wondrous thing?
/sarcasm off
August 24th, 2007 at 11:57 amAccording to Haley Barbour, who was sworn in as the Governor of Mississipi in January 2004, the firm was sold to the Interpublic Group of Companies in 1999. Part of the sale deal was that the name remain the same even though Barbour no longer had a financial stake in the company. [4]
Who is behind Barbour, Haley and Rogers?
“… in June 2004 O’Dwyers PR Daily reported that BG&R was discussing buying a controlling interest in itself back from Interpublic. It reported that “the former Republican National Committee chairman has put his stake in BG&R into a blind trust. He has said that he isn’t sure whether he will return to BG&R after he leaves office.” [5]
In a September 2003 article on his blogsite, Josh Marshall wrote that New Bridge Strategies – a company established to help clients win Iraq reconstruction contracts – “looks an awful lot like an outgrowth of Barbour Griffith and Rogers”. [6]
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Barbour_Griffith_%26_Rogers
August 24th, 2007 at 12:01 pmSo, this is the kind of democracy Bush has been exporting: Rovian democracy. So, becoming Iraq PM is like becoming a US Attorney: All one has to do is lobby for it.
August 24th, 2007 at 12:07 pmThe administration and the Congress and both parties are only about business – what we have now is a syndicate running the country. This gang of politicians, lobbyists, military contractors, spies, and Wall Street investors are swimming in tax dollars – trillions are being syphoned away from the public accounts.
This is the real conspiracy – it isn’t a right-wing conspiracy as Hilary claimed – it is a broad conspiracy that includes Repubs and Dems. We are knee deep in the big muddy.
The sub-prime mortgage collapse is just one example of how in every quarter of our economy – the money is being stolen.
If they can’t privatize the governmental function, they will steal it some other way. Nothing will stop them.
All we can do is prepare for the collapse. Join together in a community that recognizes the truth. All the lies being told to us in both the Republican and Democratic debates would make even a mafia don choke.
August 24th, 2007 at 12:17 pmMy favorite quote by Jello Biafra “I am tired of a one party state masquerading as a two party state”
August 24th, 2007 at 12:22 pmThe White House is doing it PRO-BONO. Yes the White House is paying the Lobbyist for fee. Another plan that wont work but it is the taxpayers money their spending.
August 24th, 2007 at 12:26 pmIsn’t this exactly what John Edwards is talking about, that the entire political system in Washington is rigged by big money and lobbyists?
August 24th, 2007 at 12:29 pmhttp://www.johnedwards.com/news/speeches/20070823-hanover-speech/
It’s time for the big change that, among the presidential candidates, only Edwards seems to get.
I think Kucinich gets it as well. Problem is, the ones who get it, won’t get air time to actually change anything.
August 24th, 2007 at 12:37 pmEdwards speech does touch on important, critical points. However I am mistrustful. Perhaps I am incorrect. Perhaps Edwards can be trusted to do as he preaches.
But my biggest hesitation is the fact that ending the IRaq war is not the first item on his list. Universal health care is. While I am in favor of universal health care, ending the IRaq war is the most critical and must be addressed first. The trillions of dollars flowing out the door under the guise of fighting terrorism is destroying our country.
My second biggest hesitation on Edwards is the lack of concrete steps he would take to end the war and to institute universal health care.
He talks in a high-minded way. What we need is practical, on the ground strategies for tackling these issues.
The candidate I vote for will need to commit to strategies now, even if they don’t work out.
I have no faith in high-minded platitudes and emotional waxing eloquencies.
August 24th, 2007 at 12:40 pmAl Sadr is going to sit back & let a sectarian barbarian who is backed by the great Satan come to the top ?
August 24th, 2007 at 1:12 pmFIX YOUR EFFING SITE TP!
August 24th, 2007 at 2:46 pmal-douri was saddam’s right hand man and will eventually be the iraqi leader. the baathists will be back and america can’t do anything to stop them.
August 24th, 2007 at 10:06 pmReplacing Allawi with Maliki didn’t change anything before. And replacing Maliki with Allawi will also do nothing to change the lack of political progress in Iraq. Change in leadership will also do nothing to end the bloodshed in Iraq.
August 25th, 2007 at 4:42 amAllawi – — Batista, Trujillo, Strossner, Duvalier, Pinochet –who cares? It is to our advantage and, we (not the American people) will do it as long as it is required; end of story.
August 25th, 2007 at 3:10 pm