Al-Ja’afari Premier Credentials Questioned

Growing Shia calls for their prime ministerial nominee to be replaced by a more moderate candidate. Ibrahim Al-Ja’afari is under pressure from leading Shia to withdraw as their candidate for post of premier because of his slowing progress on forming a new government and concerns over his Islamist orientation.

If Al-Ja’afari withdraws, the contest will be between the three other original UIA candidates - Chalabi, SCIRI’s Adel Abdul Mahdi (the outgoing finance minister) and scientist Hussein Al-Shahristani, a close ally of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. But it will also revive Allawi’s hopes.

Many press reports suggested that Chalabi was now considering linking up with Allawi and the Kurds to propose their own candidate for premier. This move coincides with reports leaked by the Kurds to the media indicating that they too are not happy with the UIA’s choice of candidate.

Privately, Kurdish leaders would prefer either the secularist Allawi, or the moderate Islamist Abdul Mahdi for the top job. They have been working with the duo in exile for years and feel more comfortable with them than with the more liberal but unpredictable Chalabi.

http://home.cogeco.ca/~kurdistan6/25-3-05-jaafari-credencials-questioned.htm

"Many press reports suggested that Chalabi was now considering linking up with Allawi and the Kurds to propose their own candidate for premier."

bwaahahhaha. The coalition of the marionettes.

"To strengthen his position within the UIA, Al-Ja’afari is now trying to persuade Allawi to take part in the cabinet. However, Allawi refused the offer - saying that his political programme and that of the Shia alliance were incompatible"

Goodness, is Allawi being an OBSTRUCTIONIST here? Is he PLAYING POLITICS with Iraqi democracy? Doesn't he know Iraq is desperate to move forward, and these obstructionist tactics make him... uh, weak on terror?

Ja'afari should use the right's own rhetoric against its puppets.

I just added it in. It is pretty funny.

Though, I wouldn't mind if the UIA kicked out Jaafari and put in Mahdi, because Mahdi doesn't support forcing Islamic law on the women of Iraq.

Pardon me if I'm a bit jaded about moves to undermine the anti-occupation madate of those who voted in Iraq.

Allawi is a puppet of colonialists. He should be tried for treason.

And some Kurds, who I imagine are being serenaded by a sickly sweet Allawi song along with big bags of money and empty promises.

Will that be the "semi-major axis of evil"?