Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh reports today in the New Yorker that the Bush administration authorised covert action to rig last January's Iraqi elections.
Hersh discovers that the Americans were keen to ensure that a pro-American government continued in Iraq and individuals or groups not associated with the Shias or Iran would be assisted. The reality, of course, is far different with some elements of the current Iraqi government very close to the Iranian mullahs.
Hersh quotes a UN official: "The American embassy's aim was to make sure that [Iyad] Allawi remained as prime minister, and they tried to do it through manipulation of the system...[But] the Shias rigged the election in the south as much as ballots were rigged for Allawi."
Hersh discovers that the Americans were keen to ensure that a pro-American government continued in Iraq and individuals or groups not associated with the Shias or Iran would be assisted. The reality, of course, is far different with some elements of the current Iraqi government very close to the Iranian mullahs.
Hersh quotes a UN official: "The American embassy's aim was to make sure that [Iyad] Allawi remained as prime minister, and they tried to do it through manipulation of the system...[But] the Shias rigged the election in the south as much as ballots were rigged for Allawi."
4 Comments:
Always on the mark Hersh. He must have so many enemies!
I think the US is pretty concerned about an independent Iraq forming strong ties with Iran. Indeed part of the reason behind the original British blueprint for Iraq was to maintain some limitations on the local independence movements. A united Shia population across the two nations would be an imposing political force.
Speaking of such things, the Iraqi PM's in Iran this week: http://house-negro.blogspot.com/2005/07/bridging-gap.html.
The connections between Iran and Iraq are indeed fascinating.
As for Hersh, he's the best journo in the world, I reckon, other than Fisk. The amount of stories they've both broken over the last decades. Brave stuff.
Hersh's latest is a fascinating back-hander to those who called the January Iraqi elections fully democratic...
Yeah, both guns. I think Hersh just tips Fisk on seniority, but who's ranking them eh? :-) John Martinkus is another incredible freelancer. Of course so many others, not to mention journos from the South.
It's funny that other reports have said the Bush admin considered but decided against 'tampering' with the Iraqi elections. As if the mere contemplation of something so undemocratic (literally) is ok. Am I just impatient, or is Mr Bush (et al) made of teflon or something? The shit just never sticks. Why doesn't anyone impeach the bastard?
Teflon, yes. Though history will be less kind.
Impeachment movement is growing, watch that space...
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