Ahmed Chalabi has dropped out of the race to be the UIA’s nominee for prime minister of Iraq.
From CTV:
Pressure from within the ranks of the winning United Iraqi Alliance forced the withdrawal of Chalabi, a one-time Pentagon favorite, said Hussein al-Moussawi from the Shiite Political Council, an umbrella group for 38 Shiite parties. “They wanted him to withdraw. They didn’t want to push the vote to a secret ballot,” al-Moussawi said. The 140 members were to put the decision between Chalabi and al-Jaafari to a secret ballot by Tuesday’s end.
So what do you think he’ll get for that? Cushy job in the oil ministry? Special liaison for Iranian affairs, maybe?
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COMMENTS / 3 COMMENTS
Curzon added these pithy words on 23 Feb 05 at 4:12 amHow long is the current government going to last? Who knows—this man could end up being Deng Xiapoing circa 1966!
Younghusband added these pithy words on 23 Feb 05 at 4:16 amYes, I wouldn’t put it past master politician Chalabi to rise up again at some point in the future. I am just wondering where this will place him in the near future, and how that will impact on US-Iraq relations. The “Iranian affairs” liaison was just sarcasm, but put him in the oil ministry and the US is going to have to deal with him no matter what, which can be delicate since his popularity is pretty polarized.
Younghusband added these pithy words on 23 Feb 05 at 3:55 pmMore from LAT:
As for the distribution of ministries, there is a rumor that Ayad Allawi will get “defense,” a condition, it is said, set by the U.S. government—for Allawi to have one of the top “security” portfolios. Some say Allawi has declined “defense,” in favor of deputy prime minister for national security. Chalabi might get “finance”—it’d be hard for him to get “foreign,” because of his outstanding warrant, in Jordan—which means “interior,” might have to go to a Sunni Arab. That could be Mudhar Showket, who’s Chalabi’s second. There is another top Sunni Arab in the Alliance, but I don’t remember his name. That still leaves Adil abdil-Mehdi, and other members of the Supreme Council. Mehdi could stay at “finance,” or he could move to “defense” or “interior,” two of the other top five positions—prime minister, defense, foreign, interior and finance.
