Washington gives up one of its closest partners in occupation: breaking into Ahmad al-Chalabi home
It seemed yesterday that the US decided to give up the chairman of the Iraqi National Congress, Ahmad al-Chalabi, its closest partner to the occupation of Iraq, when its forces broke into his home in support of the Iraqi security forces and two of his party offices.
On Tuesday, American officials said that the defense department stopped financing al-Chalabi of USD 340,000 monthly payments. During the last months, al-Chalabi was exposed to a wave of hard criticism from Washington after none of the Weapons of Mass destruction he notified about were found.
The American officials recently accused Chalabi of obstructing investigations in the "oil for food" program. On the other hand, Chalabi launched a special investigation saying that an independent investigation will have more credibility and started to pressure the occupation authority to give him a sum of USD 5 million for such efforts and this was rejected by the Americans. The sources indicated a second reason for difference and expected to be the calls made by Chalabi to maintain closer relations with Iran.
A high ranking official in the occupation authority said that breaking in acts were carried out at Chalabi's house and two offices of the Iraq's national congress offices, according to a warrant of arrest issued against more than 15 persons on accusations of " looting and highjacking and similar cases." He added that several persons were detained, noting that Chalabi was not on the list of the accused persons. Chalabi assistant, Haidar Musawi, said that three security members working for Chalabi were detained despite the fact that have no links to any of the said accusations.
In a press conference, Chalabi strongly criticized the occupation authority accusing it of allying with the former Baathists and mistreating the Iraqis.
He stressed " I no longer have relation with the coalition authority," adding " if the coalition authority finds it is necessary to attack my house, this will be an example of the relation between the coalition authority and the Iraqis.."
He said " We thank the American President George Bush " for liberating Iraq but it is time for the Iraqis to run their own affairs." Chalabi added that the house which was stormed is also the house of the defense minister Ali Abdul Amir Allwi, adding that this operation " constitutes a big challenge for the governing council " which notified him he will hold an emergency meeting today. He continued " on Monday Ezz Eddine Salim ( the president of the governing council) was assassinated before an American inspection point. Today a joint house was stormed for a member in the council and the defense minister at the consent of the coalition authority."
American soldiers and American armed members in civilian uniforms broke with the participation of Iraqi security members into Chalabi's house in the al-Mansour quarters and persons were seen carrying boxes from the house to cars waiting outside. Assistant for al-Chalabi said that documents and computer sets were confiscated from the house. Chalabi said that the security forces confiscated documents relating to the "oil for food" program and a report from the ministry of oil to the governing council and messages from this council.
However, member of the governing council Muhammad Baher al-Oloum threatened to resign from the council if the " coalition authority will not stop violations."