The Wheels are Falling Off--and the Engine is Missing

Andrew Cockburn in Counterpunch, has the reason for our turning on Chalabi: he was planning a coup.

According to Cockburn, Ahmad has been plotting for the last couple of months. It's been clear from the beginning that a convicted-in-absentia- embezzler (in neighboring Jordan) isn't exactly a George Washington figure. I think Chalabi held out some hope based on the continuing support provided to his faction by the Bush administration. When it became clear that there was no hope at all, Ahmad apparently thought destabilizing the incoming regime would be his ticket to success.

As I noted yesterday, political factions of all kinds are vying for power in Mesopotamia. Imagine that. The US created an absolute vacuum there, and the chance to grab the brass ring is far too tempting to pass up. The fact that we'd been grooming Chalabi is indicative of both the fact that some were aware of the danger of a power vacuum and that some were incredibly stupid in thinking this guy could fill it. A Chalabi government would have ZERO credibility. Don Corleone would have more legitimacy as mayor of New York.

If Chalabi is willing to destabilize an incoming government in an attempt to claim the prize, think of what others are doing. Also consider that the new government is supposed to be in place in six weeks. Six weeks.

Whoever is selected for that thankless task might want to learn a little about Pope John Paul the First, pope for thirty days or life, whichever came first...