Did Iraq Just Elect a Mass-Murderer?

[Echo In Light]

The charge that Ayad Allawi committed a heinous crime was widely reported outside the United States, but our media killed it.

We can’t know whether the new Iraqi prime minister, Ayad Allawi, murdered six restrained men in cold blood while a mix of Iraqi and American guards looked on in shock.

What we do know is that Allawi was alleged to have committed the gruesome crime just before the “hand-over” of the government to Iraqi nationals in 2004 (he served as interim prime minister in Iraq’s transitional government). The allegations were made by an award-winning journalist in a major mainstream publication -- Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald -- relying on two sources who confirmed details of the event independently of one another.

We also know that the American media, with few exceptions, killed the story entirely. The few outlets that alluded to the charges did so with such a degree of skepticism -- essentially accepting official denials (and half-denials) as the end of the matter -- as to render it virtually meaningless.

As a result, in 2004, with debate over the invasion of Iraq front and center around the world, the American public got a far different picture of the conflict -- and the leaders George W. Bush installed in the fledgling Iraqi government -- than the people of every other English-speaking country in the world.

http://www.alternet.org/world/146204/did_iraq_just_elect_a_mass-murderer/

[ixion]

1. No more than any other Mass Murderer that has run the country, including Paul Bremer

who I'm sure had more than a few people disappeared in the Name of Liberation.

[ck4829]

2. And he's probably the candidate with a smaller number of bodies buried in his basement

How many people have Maliki's death squads from the Interior Ministry silenced?

[Echo In Light]

3. Bump

[damntexdem]

4. A perfect match to our own record in Iraq.

And in the recent election, he was the LESSER of evils!

It's way past time to declare total victory and bring all the troops home.

[eridani]

5. Remember, it's going to have to be a coalition government of some sort n/t

[DuckyCase]

6. You betcha. We've got the strong man we wanted all along.

[blindpig]

7. The guy has got what it takes

to be chief local 'fixer' for Imperialism Inc. Over here we'd make him a CEO, and if he plays his cards straight he might end up one.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

8. I've always "liked" this story "Allawi shot prisoners in cold blood: witnesses"

http://www.smh.com.au/news/After-Saddam/Allawi-shot-prisoners-in-cold-blood-witnesses/2004/07/16/1089694568757.html

[Echo In Light]

9. Thanks for the link

[leftstreet]

10. Good God

:scared:

Thanks for the link (I think)

[ellenfl]

11. according to richard engel in trms last week, allawi is the

best option. as i consider engel an expert on iraq (and a total hottie, but that's neither here nor there), i totally believe him. the coalition he would put together would not be as pro-iran as maliki's gummint would be and would also have an equality of the sects/be more sectarian.

ellen fl