Here’s a challenge to an enterprising investigative reporter: Why is it that the neoconservatives, who are most loudly demanding a showdown with Iran, are the same ones supporting pro-Iranian radical Shiite fundamentalists in Iraq?
Yesterday, on CNN’s Late Edition, I watched Richard Perle, the dean of the neocons, thunder once again against Tehran. Like most of his acolytes, Perle dismissed the talks between the Europeans and Iran; voiced his suspicion that Iran would renege on the deal to halt its nuclear program; demanded that the United States brandish the threat of military action; and called for U.S. support for regime change in Iran by backing Chalabi-style exiles.
At the same time, however, the neocons are increasingly isolated in their overt support for Ayatollah Sistani and the Iran-leaning fundamentalist Shiite parties in Iraq, namely, Al Dawa and the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq. Sistani, backed (it seems) by Dawa and SCIRI, are insisting that the impossible elections be held on Jan. 30. Although virtually the rest of Iraq, and the rest of the world, favors postponing the date, the neocon-dominated United States continues to support Sistani. Why, exactly? The man is a fanatic, and if the Shiites succeed in this election drive, they could spark a civil war, alienate the Kurds and create an Iraq allied to Iran.
In the most stunning action, the two big Kurdish parties broke with Sistani and joined the coalition of Sunnis demanding that the election be postponed. It is truly an amazing piece of news, since the Kurds had previously given little indication that they intended to break with the majority Shiites. But the Shiite insistence on constitutional provisions that would have marginalized the Kurds seems to have scared them.
Now calling for a postponement are the CIA-linked Iraqis, such as Prime Minister Allawi’s Iraqi National Accord and former foreign minister (from the 1960s) Adnan Pachachi, along with virtually all of the Sunni leadership. It’s clear that this Sunni bloc has the support of Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, all of whom fear Iranian (and Shiite power). But for two years the U.S. neoconservatives have been demanding that the United States purge the Sunnis and back the Shiites. And of course, the neocons’ favorite Iraqi, Ahmed Chalabi, is one of those leading the Shiite resurgence—in league with the infamous Muqtada Sadr, another Iranian-linked operative and loose cannon.
The CIA, of course, is being purged of those who supported Pachachi, Allawi et al. The pro-Chalabi, pro-Shiite neocons are taking over the Agency, under Porter Goss. The State Department is soon to follow.
But reality may intrude. The resistance can’t stop the elections entirely, but they can render it illegitimate. How long will Washington tie itself to Jan. 30, and to Sistani?
Meanwhile, Allawi is planning talks in Jordan with the Baath Party.
