WASHINGTON'S IRAQI STOOGE URGES MASS REPRESSION

[tedzbear]

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/sep2003/chal-s03.shtml

Check this op-ed out. These analysts may be Commies, but they sure seem to explain what is happening in a very informative manner. Here's just one paragraph:

"Bringing the UN into any decision-making authority in Iraq is bitterly opposed by the dominant faction within the Bush administration, and in particular by the right-wing cabal that controls the civilian leadership of the Pentagon. They see any such move as a setback for their strategy of transforming the Middle East and America’s strategic position in the world through the unilateral use of military force. Instead, their policy is one of cobbling together a Quisling regime in Baghdad as the “Iraqi face” for US occupation combined with the intensification of violent repression."

[meegbear]

1. You hear much about Chalabi in the news ...

if at all.

[IndianaGreen]

2. Chalabi compromised an anti-Saddam coup in 1996!!!!!!!

Talking Points Memo
by Joshua Micah Marshall
(August 30th, 2003 -- 2:00 PM EDT)

Bob Drogin article in Thursday's Los Angeles Times...

The CIA had a very different take on what had happened with the 1996 coup debacle. Many at the Agency thought that Chalabi, rather than warning that the plot had been compromised, had in fact been the source of the compromise.

The key thing about the 1996 coup attempt, after all, was that it didn't include Chalabi --- but rather the rival umbrella group, the Iraqi National Accord, an assortment of Sunni military defectors. And Chalabi had a history of scuttling anti-Saddam plans that didn't involve him.

Most believed that Chalabi had intentionally compromised the plan, though some thought he might have unwittingly done so or that his group had been infiltrated by Iraqi agents. (These suspicions at the Agency were noted obliquely in this May 16th column by David Ignatius.)

Let's make clear that the CIA also wasn't an unbiased observer to all this. The plot had gone south. It was their operation. And they weren't crazy about Chalabi to begin with. It's not unreasonable to question whether these operatives were just looking for a convenient person to blame the whole mess on. Without all sorts of security clearances, it's almost impossible to judge the basis of their suspicions, though senior people at the Agency implied that their evidence was more than circumstantial.

However that may be, the fact that many folks at the Agency believed Chalabi had leaked word of their plot and gotten a number of US assets executed helps explain why their distrust and animosity toward him runs so deep.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/aug0304.html#083003200pm

[glarius]

9. Chalabi has a face not to be trusted!!!!

His face gives me the shivers...:scared:

[Aidoneus]

3. "Iraqi National Congress ... can provide lists and locations of people..."

telling paragraphs,

In the Post column, Chalabi argues that the US should carry out a massive security crackdown in Iraq. He proposes: “Coalition forces need to move quickly to arrest and question thousands of people: Baathists, Saddam Fedayeen and former members of the security services and the military, as well as their brothers, nephews and cousins. The Iraqi National Congress and other pro-coalition groups can provide lists and locations of people and assist in their interrogations.”

The former exile further advocates: “Conduct a security sweep through the towns where resistance is concentrated. Coalition forces should surround these towns and give residents a 48-hour deadline to hand in illegal weapons, after which house-to-house searches will be conducted. If a cache of weapons is found in the house, then all male residents between 15 and 50 will be arrested.”

Finally, he urges, “Move quickly to establish an Iraqi security force that can take the burden of many of these tasks.”

Mass arrests of suspects and their relatives, laying siege to towns and rounding up males “between 15 and 50”—all of these tactics are drawn from the most brutal traditions of foreign occupation going back to the Nazis in Europe, the French in Algeria, the US in Vietnam and today’s Israeli practices in the Palestinian occupied territories.

[Junkdrawer]

5. Chalabi heads the rotating chair of the US-appointed ruling council...

this month - just as Bremer is announcing more control will be given to the council. Look for Chalabi to give himself control of the security apparatus - and that becomes a good launching point for further control later.

PS: The overtures by Powell et al to the UN may be window dressing.

[leetrisck]

4. Richard Pearle???

Anyone know where he's hanging out these days? He seemed to love Chalawbi like a brother. Last I heard of Pearle, he made some statement from his villa in France.

[Flying_Pig]

6. All in keeping with the plan....

:evilgrin:
<http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,287510,00.jpg>

[meegbear]

7. AAAHHH!!!

Thats' scary!

[The Blue Flower]

12. Eisenstadt

I wonder if Eisenstadt did this deliberately. His portraits always reveal character.

[RichM]

8. Re: "These analysts may be Commies..."

The WSWS analysts are far more accurate & perceptive than anything you'll find in the mainstream press. This is because they see the big picture, & understand the connection between the terrible things we see each day, & the underlying socio-economic structure.

I know you don't really intend to use the word "Commies" in its full derogatory sense, but the WSWS are not Communists. They are orthodox Marxists, not Stalinists. Their analysis is based on an understanding of what's fundamentally wrong with capitalism; how capitalism inevitably leads to extreme wealth inequality; & how this brings with it a process whereby the rich buy control of the government. This kind of thinking is verboten in the mainstream, & it's something most Democrats won't talk about, either. (Democrats are basically full collaborators with the existing system, & get very quiet when the subject changes to what's wrong with our basic system.)

I've been reading WSWS for about 2 1/2 years. When I started reading it, they predicted that serious conflicts were going to soon emerge between the US & its European allies. This was way before such things were visible on the horizon. Look how accurate this prediction proved to be.

If you want to understand what's going on, keep reading WSWS. Their analysis is far more intelligent & penetrating than, for example, most of the silly blather that now passes for "discussion" on DU.

[tedzbear]

14. Oh no, I said it with sarcasm directed at * and his Right Wingers.

They would call WSWS Commies I'm sure. I absolutely adore WSWS and rely on it daily. I was a union man in the movie biz so I know how valuable grass roots socialism is in our livelihood.

Sounds like WSWS is predicting Chalabi's ascension to the throne no matter what the current media wisdom is. We'll have to wait and see... Gosh I hope he doesn't get it. He sounds as evil as Saddam.

[tom_paine]

10. The formation of the Iraqi SAVAK

inevitable.

inevitable.

And they will be as ruthless as Saddam. As brutal and uncaring as a Bushevik. As lying as a Stalin. As murderous as Marcos (probably more so).

We will train them. We will help them get started. We will make sure they have the most up-to-date torture manuals as they reopen Saddam's Torture Chambers under new management.

And then, a decade from now (if there exists any semblance of a Free Press in the Empire), it will come out and Emperor Jeb or Emperor Ahnold will say, "My Gosh, where did THAT come from? We had noooo idea!"

But of course, by then Imperial Amerika will be much closer to the Old Soviet Union than even it is today, and the Imperial Amerika will then touch great masses of the commonfolk in ways that it doesn't yet today in this twilight of Liberty in which we live.

So I have a sneaking suspicion that Emperor Jeb or Ahnold won't even have to bother papering over their lies with more lies in those degenerate days that are coming.

[tedzbear]

15. What do ya bet the Supreme Court will fix it so Arnold can be Prez...

They will declare it unconstitutional for a non-natural born citizen to be prohibited from running for President.
Just watch!
:bounce:

[tom_paine]

11. What;'s scary is that suddenly the Extreme Left is making so much sense

That can only mean something is out of whack somewhere, and that quite badly.

In a strong, healthy Democratic-Republic, both extremes would look nuts.

But of course, we don't even have a Republic, technically-speaking, anymore.

[Junkdrawer]

13. Kick

:kick: