Chalabi vs al-Jaafari going to SECRET BALLOT

[Bluebear]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Top Shiite politicians failed to reach a consensus Wednesday on their nominee for prime minister, shifting the two-man race to a secret ballot and exposing divisions in the winning alliance. In a chilling reminder of challenges facing the winner, a videotape showed a sobbing Italian hostage pleading for her life.

After hours of closed-door meetings, members of the United Iraqi Alliance agreed to hold a secret ballot to choose between Ibrahim al-Jaafari and Ahmad Chalabi, most likely on Friday, said Ali Hashim al-Youshaa, one of the alliance's leaders.

The contrast between the two candidates is stark and reveals a division within the clergy-endorsed alliance, made up of 10 major political parties and various allied smaller groups.

Al-Jaafari, 58, is the leader of the religious Dawa Party, one of Iraq's oldest parties, known for its popularity and close ties to Iran. Although al-Jaafari is a moderate, his party's platform is conservative.

Chalabi, 58, who left Iraq as a teen, leads the Iraqi National Congress and had close ties to the Pentagon (news - web sites) before falling out of favor last year after claims he passed intelligence information to Iran.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050216/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_050216185054

sorry mods cross posted

[ClintonTyree]

1. Why is this lying sack of shit, Chalabi, even being considered?

he Iraqis HAVE to know he's a bush stooge. Whay would they even allow it? I smell armed revolution in a democratic nation that hasn't even been born yet.

[Bluebear]

2. His party got a handful of votes, and now is is in the running?

Yeah, that could happen. And now a "secret ballot!"

[elehhhhna]

3. "How to Guarantee A Civil War" a Science Fair Project by GWB

[Bluebear]

4. They think it's a powder keg now?

Wait until Chalabi "wins"!