Iraq

I've been reading up on this new iterim premier of Iraq, Iyad Allawi, and alarm bells are ringing in my head. This man is known to be agressive (as a student he once forced his fellow students into striking by threatening them with a machine gun) and he has the full backing of the CIA, he has been 'their man' for years.

The Governing Council members generally need a map to find themselves, I find it completely unbelievable that they now acted on their own with such speed and cunning.



This man hit the ground running:

Allawi wants more authority for the Governing Council.

Allawi wants direct control over Iraq's armed forces.

Allawi wants to have a say in the selection of the ministers who will form the new government of Iraq.

Allawi wants his government to have full authority over Iraq's security and economy.

And, Allawi plans to be a candidate in the January 2005 elections.



Forget Brahimi, forget interim government and I suspect, forget elections in 2005.



My paranoia is running at full steam:

Was the earlier US leak a misdirection?

Was Iyad Allawi the main choice all along?

Was this a CIA manipulation?

Does Iraq now have a new strongman at the head, one favourably inclined towards the USA?

Have we all just watched a well-executed dictator swap?