Chalabi's back
Monday, September 6, 2004, 00:07
Ahmad Chalabi gave an interview on Al Arabiya on Thursday, managing to sound like every Arab regime - and even the Bush administration - by blaming everyone for whatever has gone wrong – in this particular case, the attempt on his life which killed two of his bodyguards. It could be terrorists, Saddam loyalists, other parties, and foreign forces, he said. (Who else is left, especially when considering that members of the government could fall under any of these categories, depending on the source you ask?) More importantly, the once very secular Chalabi gave another sign of his increasing proximity to Shi'a circles, by lamenting in detail the despicable living conditions in Sadr City, the slum of Baghdad formerly known as Saddam City inhabited mostly by poor Shi'a Iraqis.
In October 2003, Chalabi showed his sudden religiosity by siding with Sistani over the inclusion of Shari’a law in TAL (the Transitional Administrative Law). Now, he is championing the cause of Muqtada Sadr’s followers, having realized the considerable potential of their support.
Somehow, he seems to be getting stronger and has thwarted every American and Iraqi government attempt to sideline him. Watch out for more prophetic statements from Chalabi; remember, after the raid on his house, he asked the US to “let my people go.”
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Questions on terrorism
Monday, September 6, 2004, 00:04
No suicide bombers had attacked Israel for six months, Israeli officials said repeatedly on Tuesday as they tried to justify the wall cutting off the West Bank (and eating into Palestinian territory) from Israel. The way to stop terror, they argued ad nauseam, is to extend the wall (declared illegal by the International Court of Justice). It brings Israel security, they said. Only suicide bombers are breaking the peace and quiet, most media reported unquestioningly.In the same six-month period, however, 436 Palestinians were killed by Israel, but who would know? No breaking news ever announce these horrific deaths by bullets, bombs, missiles, and makeshift houses crumbling over helpless innocents. No international outcry ever ensues following countless Israeli attacks on people (3.5 million of them) caged in bits of territory their grandparents called home.
All human and legal conventions, including the Geneva Conventions, have been violated repeatedly by Israel, but the only terrorism that brings outrage to the world is that committed by Palestinians. Don’t both qualify as terrorism?
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