Last night, it emerged that on the same day as the raid [on Chalabi's offices], computer files belonging to the British consultant investigating the oil-for-food scandal were destroyed by hackers and a back-up databank in his Baghdad office wiped out.
Claude Hankes Drielsma, a British businessman and long-time acquaintance of Mr Chalabi, accused America and Britain of mounting a "dirty tricks" campaign to obstruct his inquiry. "I think you have to expect this to happen with events of the magnitude of those we are dealing with," he said.
His report on oil-for-food, written for the international accounting company KPMG, was due to be released in three weeks but its publication has been delayed for at least three months, he said.
"This report would have been even more damning than anticipated. This would not sit comfortably with the political agenda in Washington or London.
"I believe that what Washington wants is to keep the lid on things until after the presidential election. The White House believes that the report will be detrimental to President Bush's re-election campaign."
Claude Hankes Drielsma, a British businessman and long-time acquaintance of Mr Chalabi, accused America and Britain of mounting a "dirty tricks" campaign to obstruct his inquiry. "I think you have to expect this to happen with events of the magnitude of those we are dealing with," he said.
His report on oil-for-food, written for the international accounting company KPMG, was due to be released in three weeks but its publication has been delayed for at least three months, he said.
"This report would have been even more damning than anticipated. This would not sit comfortably with the political agenda in Washington or London.
"I believe that what Washington wants is to keep the lid on things until after the presidential election. The White House believes that the report will be detrimental to President Bush's re-election campaign."
Now, Josh says he's having a little bit of trouble believing Mr. Drielsma ("the dog ate my homework"?). Maybe. But, recall the previous information that Josh posted via Newsweek about what might be in Chalabi's files.
How would you like to be the guy who had to keep track of all the criminal activity and possible places damning information could leak from on BushCo?
With a little luck, maybe there will be a damning report to come out...right about election time. Or maybe right about Ground Zero exploitation time.
Personally, though, I don't have any faith in the American public any more. I think unless Bush goes on Fox News and admits to having sex with a little black boy they're going to give him a pass on anything that comes to light. And, on second thought, even then, because he admitted it, if he offers to repent, they'll still give him a pass.
Please let me be wrong on this one.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
