Powerhouse GOP lobbyists with close ties to White House working against Bush's puppet al-Maliki

updated 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
Powerhouse GOP firm working to undermine Iraqi PM

--Lobbying firm Barbour Griffith & Rogers sending e-mail questioning Iraqi PM

--E-mail sent to congressional staffers; White House denies involvement

--Firm, close to White House, hired by rival to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki

--NEW: Former Rice aide Zelikow denies knowledge of anti-Maliki campaign

By Ed Henry
CNN White House Correspondent
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/23/anti.maliki.compaign/

CRAWFORD, Texas (CNN)

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A senior Bush administration official told CNN the White House is aware of the lobbying campaign by Barbour Griffith & Rogers because the firm is "blasting e-mails all over town" criticizing al-Maliki and promoting the firm's client, former interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, as an alternative to al-Maliki.

<<snip>>

Pressed on why allies of the White House would be contradicting the president publicly, the senior administration official said of the lobbyists, "They're making a lot of money."

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Asked earlier why Republican lobbyists would want to undercut the administration's public statements, Johndroe said, "Maybe it's a really good contract."

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But on Wednesday, upset by media reports asserting he was backing away from the Iraqi leader, Bush clarified in a speech, "Prime Minister Maliki is a good guy, a good man with a difficult job, and I support him."

The e-mails to congressional staffers came from the e-mail address DrAyadAllawi@Allawi-for-Iraq.com. But the bottom of the e-mail added this note of disclosure to congressional aides: "Barbour Griffith & Rogers, LLC has filed registration statements under the Foreign Agents Registration Act with regard to its representation and dissemination of information on behalf of Dr. Ayad Allawi."