Allawi hires Republican lobbyist powerhouse----WTF??? Seriously

[spanone]

Friends, this is some strange shit goin on here. If I understand this correctly, Allawi is hiring Republican lobbyists to influence the government of Iraq??? Who are they lobbying?

WHAT THE FUCK? DO WE EVEN HAVE A STATE DEPARTMENT?

There have been a variety of indications that former interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi is making a power play, in the hopes of replacing Maliki. Some of Allawi’s strategy has been behind the scenes, while some of it is more overt.

A powerhouse Republican lobbying firm with close ties to the White House has begun a public campaign to undermine the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, CNN has confirmed.

This comes as President Bush is publicly taking great pains to reiterate his support for the embattled Iraqi leader, whose government has come under sharp criticism and scrutiny from Washington lawmakers and officials and Thursday’s National Intelligence Estimate.

A senior Bush administration official told CNN the White House is aware of the lobbying campaign by Barbour Griffith & Rogers because the firm is “blasting e-mails all over town” criticizing al-Maliki and promoting the firm’s client, former interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, as an alternative to the current Iraqi leader.


http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/12642.html

[Robbien]

1. Surprising isn't it. Most foreign countries

and most US states and cities hire lobbyists to petition the government and influence US public opinion.

Allawi is just playing according to the K Street rules we now live by.

[spanone]

2. With Close Ties To The WhiteHouse....not business as usual

[Robbien]

3. Many of the K Street lobbyists have close ties to the WH

All of the K Street lobbyists have close ties to the GOP leadership. That is how Norquist/Gingrich set up K Street.

[Disturbed]

5. Meet the new Boss, same as the old Boss.

Maliki's final act that spelled his doom.



Busholini said, "Maliki is a good guy." Translation: "I want this guy gone, now!"

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Bush reiterates his support of Maliki

Bush's word means what, exactly?

[sallyseven]

7. His words are always lies.

[spanone]

6. snip

~snip~So, while Bush is publicly reaffirming his support for Maliki, some of the top Republican lobbyists in DC are organizing a campaign to replace him? Yep, that’s exactly what’s happening.

ThinkProgress makes clear why the GOP establishment may prefer Allawi to Maliki.

The right-wing has long had a fascination with Allawi, largely because he has proved to be compliant with the Bush administration’s agenda. Allawi was ceremonially anointed Iraq’s leader in June 2004 by then-Coalition Provisional Authority chief administrator Paul Bremer.

While serving as interim Prime Minister, Allawi repeatedly rejected calls for U.S. troop withdrawals. During the height of the 2004 presidential election campaign, Allawi delivered a strong defense of Bush’s “stay the course” strategy in much-hyped Rose Garden appearance. Later, media reports revealed that Allawi had been “coached” by the administration prior to his appearance: <…>

Allawi has been described as “Saddam lite.” In 2004, he handcuffed and blindfolded suspected terrorists and shot them in the head with a pistol. Now, with frustrations mounting against current prime minister Maliki, the administration may be using that as an opportunity to usher in its reliable ally Allawi.

And with the administration’s new-found interest in giving up on Iraqi democracy anyway, “Saddam lite” might fit the bill.

Stay tuned.~snip~

[billyoc]

8. This is a violation of the Logan Act. You can't conduct U.S. foreign policy

as a private citizen. As soon as the Department of Justice finds out about this..




Oh, yeah. Nevermind. :grr:

[spanone]

9. now that's funny

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rof

[Disturbed]

10. This is a violation of the Logan Act.

Laws only apply to non-Rethugs in The New World Order of Amerika.

[GeorgeGist]

11. Why not Rover ...

???????????????????

[Disturbed]

12. A refefresher on the "new Boss".

Red Cross Named Jail Before Alleged Killings by Iraqi PM
... Iyad Allawi, is alleged to have executed as many as six suspected insurgents. ... The detainees' allegations and a Red Cross demand for a thorough ...

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0722-09.htm