Iraq politician Chalabi returns to Baghdad, says aide

[Barrett808]

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Prominent Iraqi politician Ahmed Chalabi returned to Baghdad, where he has been threatened with arrest on money counterfeiting charges, said a senior aide in his party.

"He is back home among his folks," Mithal al-Alusi told AFP. "He will shower, have some tea and then resume his national duties."

A judge said on Monday that Chalabi would be arrested upon arrival in Iraq to face the charges against him.

Alusi also said Chalabi's Iraqi National Congress (INC) party had vacated one of the two buildings that make up its Baghdad headquarters, but would not relinquish the other, as demanded under a government eviction order.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040811/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_chalabi_return

[frank frankly]

1. such wild bullshit

i don't think he will get the kind of shower he is anticipating...

[saigon68]

2. Who is going to arrest Him ???

The marines ??? Black Water Industries Mercenaries ????

[daleo]

3. That is an interesting question

The outcome will say a lot about the current situation, and who is really in control.

[saigon68]

4. I wonder if his Body Guards are still there ?

And what part they will play in it?

[CaptainClark23]

5. He's tight as a drum.

He wouldn't go back to his compound if he wasn't 100% certain of his security. I'm sure he's still got his personal mercs, at least 300 of them at last count.

He's returning to show two things:

1. The claims against him are baseless, an honest man has nothing to fear.

2. "Here I am, whatcha gonna do about it, huh?" The neo-cons burned him and the arrangement, and now he's gonna show just how much power the puppets don't have by taking showers and sipping tea without a care in the world.


I seriously doubt that, short of a missile strike, anyone is going to be able to touch him. He's a survivor. I heard he just had the trunk of his car re-upholstered, he's ready for anything.

[saigon68]

6. Makes sense-- The Man is a Survivor and I'm sure he's thought it out.

It is clear that No one has any power. The last Viceroy has now departed and the "AMBASSADOR" can't openly rule with an IRON FIST.

[daleo]

8. You're right. If he really has returned, it is quite the power play.

He seems to be flipping the bird to Allawi. Bushco may be wondering what happened to their puppets strings.

[daleo]

7. I wonder where his money is coming from?

The U.S. government was supposed to be funding him to the tune of about 300K a month, as I recall. Unless he has independent sources, which is not unlikely (his background would indicate that he has accumulated some money in the past i.e. Jordan), he might be in trouble. Mercs don't work for free, or even cheap.

Assuming he can pay them though, a shootout between Chalabi's and Allawi's bodyguards (maybe throw some U.S. forces in there too) would be quite the development.

[Zhade]

10. CIA's already cut him off.

I'd hazard a guess: friends in Iran, maybe. Guy's probably got a good nest egg of U.S. taxpayer money saved up, too.

[WillyT]

9. Reuters Story Here:

Link: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=5941771

:shrug: