Spy Versus Spy

Back in the day, the US security establishment had a clever idea. Back during Iyad Allawi's administration we founded a CIA-funded "Iraqi" intelligence service under the authority of Muhammed Shahwani, a Sunni Arab ex-Baathist who, Allawi-style, had worked with the CIA in trying to foment anti-Saddam activities by members of the Iraqi security forces. After Allawi's departure, Shahwani's intelligence service marched on, in essence working for the American government rather than the Iraqi one. In response, it seems, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki founded a second intelligence service that would be loyal to him.

Spencer Ackerman remarks that the alternative intel service's rise "will further entrench Shahwani. Waili serves as the manifestation of the fears that led the U.S. to install Shahwani in the first place: the return to a mukhabarat-style security structure, this one loyal to the Shiites instead of Saddam."

Comments

Neocons have lied to Americans to get the U.S. involved in a war that in no way benefits the U.S.

This is a neocon war. Make no mistake.

Also do not think that real conservatives support this war. We do not, we never have.

I've already signed the Conservative Exodus Project.

http://www.conservativeexodusproject.com/

Posted by Real Conservative | April 15, 2007 4:29 PM

So, what's your take? Good thing? Bad thing? Just more of the same? It's worth noting, this is probably what a lot of us would have done.

If we're skeptical of ever creating a truly pluralistic democracy, but we're hopeful that there could at least be stability, is this good?

Posted by MDtoMN | April 15, 2007 4:30 PM

"Neocons have lied to Americans to get the U.S. involved in a war that in no way benefits the U.S."

Damned if I can see how anyone benefits from this war . . . maybe Halliburton, but only in the short run . . .

Posted by rea | April 15, 2007 9:22 PM

first of all, you were great on Washington Journal today. You really impressed that one rightie who said you did not seem like you hate. cool.
spy v spy. I always felt that Iraq would end up back where it was with a different name running the place if it did not become a religious state.
So, what did we fight for? nothing. but, many of us knew that before Bush invaded.

Posted by vwcat | April 15, 2007 10:33 PM

So in a majority Shia-Kurd state, the fact that a Shia has some imput into security services, is scandalous. Yes I
know we're surprised to decry the 'death squads' ; which really means paramilitary organizations you don't like.
Bayan Jabr, formerly of the Badr Brigade, is the big boogey
man. The reality is that the 'insurgency' is overwhelmingly
from the Sunni tribes of the Dulaimi, Jabbar, Ubeidi, which
are a minority of a minority; they composed the top ranks
of the Army, General Intelligence, (Mukharabat) Special
Republican Guard (SSO) and the jihadi elements. The civil
war 'began' when the Shia retaliated against the three year
campaign of these Sunni elements, both in Iraq, and in bordering states, SA, Jordan, et al)

Posted by narciso | April 16, 2007 12:48 AM

Hell, if the US can have a Cheney intelligence service, a DoD intelligence service, a CIA intelligence service, a State Dept. intelligence service, a FBI intelligence service, a Dept. of Homeland Security intelligence service, a NSA intelligence service, a DEA intelligence service, a USAF intellience service, an Army intelligence service, a Navy intelligence service, and whatnot, why begrudge the Iraqi's two groups. We believe in pluralism, right? LOL.

I strongly suspect that the Kurds have one service at least, as well.

With Muktada's Shia cabinet officers about to resign in Maliki's government, who knows what is next. Even the Shadow doesn't know.

How about two Iraqi governments: the Iraqi one elected by Iraqis and one installed by the US? That would be fun.

I'd bet Bush gets on his knees each night praying for a 'strong man' in Iraq to end Bush's misery. The Soviets kept Lenin and Stalin's body in good shape for lots of decades. I hope the US has taken similar measures with Saddam's corpse, since they may need to bring it back to power as the figurehead with some US general pulling the puppet strings from behind the Wizard's curtain.

Surprise folks! He's baaaaaaaaaaaack.

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