Salem Chalabi, nephew of Ahmad Chalabi and head of the Iraqi war crimes tribunal, said his uncle told him by telephone that Iraqi and American authorities "entered his home and put the guns to his head in a very humiliating way that reminds everyone of the conduct of the former regime."
..."The Iraqi police were very embarrassed and said that they (the Americans) ordered them to come and that they didn't know it was Chalabi's house," Musawi said. "The INC is ready to have any impartial and judicial body investigate any accusation against it. There are American parties who have a list of Iraqi personalities that they want arrested to put pressure on the Iraqi political force."
...There was no comment from U.S. authorities, but American officials here have complained privately that Chalabi - a longtime Pentagon favorite - is interfering with a U.S. investigation into allegations that Saddam Hussein's regime skimmed millions in oil revenues during the U.N.-run oil-for-food program.
...Another official, Qaisar Wotwot, said the operation was linked to Chalabi's recent comments demanding full Iraqi control of oil revenues and security after the June 30 transfer of power.
...Chalabi has complained recently about U.S. plans to retain control of Iraqi security forces and maintain widespread influence over political institutions after power is transferred from the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority to an Iraqi interim administration at the end of June.
Musawi said Chalabi "had been clear on rejecting incomplete sovereignty ... and against having the security portfolio remain in the hands of those who have proved their failure."
However, U.S. and coalition officials have recently accused him of undermining the investigation into the oil-for-food program. The U.S.-backed investigation has collected more than 20,000 files from Saddam's old regime and hired an American accounting firm Ernst & Young to conduct the review.
Xposed article
..."The Iraqi police were very embarrassed and said that they (the Americans) ordered them to come and that they didn't know it was Chalabi's house," Musawi said. "The INC is ready to have any impartial and judicial body investigate any accusation against it. There are American parties who have a list of Iraqi personalities that they want arrested to put pressure on the Iraqi political force."
...There was no comment from U.S. authorities, but American officials here have complained privately that Chalabi - a longtime Pentagon favorite - is interfering with a U.S. investigation into allegations that Saddam Hussein's regime skimmed millions in oil revenues during the U.N.-run oil-for-food program.
...Another official, Qaisar Wotwot, said the operation was linked to Chalabi's recent comments demanding full Iraqi control of oil revenues and security after the June 30 transfer of power.
...Chalabi has complained recently about U.S. plans to retain control of Iraqi security forces and maintain widespread influence over political institutions after power is transferred from the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority to an Iraqi interim administration at the end of June.
Musawi said Chalabi "had been clear on rejecting incomplete sovereignty ... and against having the security portfolio remain in the hands of those who have proved their failure."
However, U.S. and coalition officials have recently accused him of undermining the investigation into the oil-for-food program. The U.S.-backed investigation has collected more than 20,000 files from Saddam's old regime and hired an American accounting firm Ernst & Young to conduct the review.
It's my understanding that the U.S. actually left Chalabi in control of many of Saddam's records. There was some consternation about that decision and some speculation that there might be some incriminating evidence against the U.S. amongst them. If so, perhaps the raid was to secure those files. Highly speculative on my part. It could be that those records merely show who's who in the Baath party, and Chalabi was keeping that information for himself.
And then there's that recent bit about suspicions that Chalabi was feeding sensitive information to the Iranians. That might provoke a raid. And then again, maybe he was being set up. Who the hell knows? Just a little warning to the next U.S. would-be puppet: it often goes badly in the end for you guys.
I wonder what Chalabi has been thinking. Surely he's not been blind-sided by this raid. We've seen something like this coming for a few months now. I had been saying that Chalabi shouldn't feel too comfortable after November, but things seem to be moving up a bit. It might be time for him to take a powder.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
P.S. That first little point I think adds some interest to the story: Chalabi's nephew is currently holding the position of Iraq's war crimes prosecutor.
And, just for a little more off-the-wall speculating: Chalabi was the Pentagon's buddy. Reports have it that the State Department didn't like him at all. Perhaps this also reflects Rumsfiend's battered position.
