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The Extraordinary Life Adventures and Obsessions of Ahmad Chalabi

Winston Hayes

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Published in The Man Who Pushed America To War: The Extraordinary Life Adventures And Obsessions Of Ahmad Chalabi

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In a world where truth is often obscured by a veil of deception, the life of Ahmad Chalabi stands as a testament to the power of both illusion and reality. A charismatic and enigmatic figure, Chalabi was a key player in the events leading up to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, and his story is a fascinating tale of power, intrigue, and the eternal quest for oil.

Born in Baghdad in 1944 to a wealthy and prominent Shiite family, Chalabi was a brilliant and ambitious young man. He studied mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),where he earned a PhD in 1969. After returning to Iraq, he worked as an economist for the government, but his political ambitions soon led him into conflict with Saddam Hussein's regime.

The Man Who Pushed America to War: The Extraordinary Life, Adventures and Obsessions of Ahmad Chalabi

by Aram Roston

4.8 out of 5

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In 1979, Chalabi fled Iraq and founded the Iraqi National Congress (INC),an opposition group dedicated to overthrowing Hussein. The INC became a major player in the Iraqi exile community, and Chalabi used his considerable wealth and connections to build support for his cause. He spent years lobbying the US government to intervene in Iraq, and he was instrumental in providing the Bush administration with the intelligence it used to justify the invasion in 2003.

As the US prepared for war, Chalabi and the INC were given a prominent role in the planning for the post-invasion administration of Iraq. Chalabi was appointed head of the Iraqi Governing Council, and he was widely seen as the future prime minister of Iraq. However, Chalabi's influence was short-lived. He quickly became embroiled in a series of scandals, and he was eventually forced to resign from the Governing Council.

Despite his fall from grace, Chalabi remained a controversial figure in Iraqi politics. He continued to lead the INC, and he was involved in a number of business ventures, including the oil industry. He died in 2015 at the age of 71, leaving behind a legacy that is both fascinating and complex.

The life of Ahmad Chalabi is a story of power, intrigue, and ambition. He was a brilliant and charismatic man who played a major role in the events leading up to the US invasion of Iraq. However, he was also a flawed and controversial figure, and his legacy is likely to be debated for years to come.

The Illusionist

Chalabi was a master of illusion. He was able to convince powerful people around the world that he was a credible leader and that he had the ability to overthrow Saddam Hussein. He was also able to create the illusion that he had access to intelligence that proved Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).

In reality, Chalabi was often misleading and dishonest. He exaggerated his own importance and the strength of his opposition movement. He also fabricated evidence to support his claims that Hussein had WMDs.

Chalabi's illusion was exposed after the US invasion of Iraq. No WMDs were ever found, and Chalabi's INC was unable to establish itself as a legitimate political force.

The Reality

Behind the illusion, Chalabi was a complex and contradictory figure. He was a brilliant and ambitious man, but he was also flawed and self-destructive. He was a patriot who wanted to liberate his country, but he was also willing to use deception and intrigue to achieve his goals.

Chalabi's legacy is likely to be debated for years to come. Some will remember him as a hero who helped to overthrow a brutal dictator. Others will remember him as a charlatan who misled the US into a disastrous war.

The Oil Connection

Oil played a major role in Chalabi's life and career. He came from a wealthy family that had made its fortune in the oil business. Chalabi himself was a successful businessman, and he had close ties to the oil industry throughout his life.

Chalabi believed that Iraq's oil wealth could be used to benefit the Iraqi people. He also believed that the US could be persuaded to intervene in Iraq if it believed that it could gain access to Iraq's oil.

Chalabi's oil connections gave him access to powerful people in the US and the Middle East. He used these connections to lobby for the invasion of Iraq and to promote his own business interests.

The Legacy

The legacy of Ahmad Chalabi is complex and controversial. He was a brilliant and ambitious man who played a major role in the events leading up to the US invasion of Iraq. However, he was also a flawed and self-destructive figure who misled the US into a disastrous war.

Chalabi's story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of illusion and the power of oil. It is also a reminder that the truth is often obscured by a veil of deception.

The Man Who Pushed America to War: The Extraordinary Life, Adventures and Obsessions of Ahmad Chalabi

by Aram Roston

4.8 out of 5