[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 72 (Thursday, May 20, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H3405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         CHALABI A CORRUPT ALLY

  (Mr. McGOVERN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, this morning we learned U.S. military 
personnel and Iraqi police raided the home and party headquarters of 
Iraqi Governing Council member Ahmed Chalabi.
  I am not surprised. Chalabi's past is riddled with allegations and 
convictions for fraud and corruption. That he may now be under 
investigation in Iraq for corruption or other crimes is hardly 
unexpected. Chalabi has always been a favorite at the Pentagon, even 
though the State Department sees him as divisive and untrustworthy.
  Under the Iraqi Liberation Act, the Pentagon has fed him a steady 
stream of money in return for information. It was Chalabi who was the 
principal source for the false intelligence about weapons of mass 
destruction in Iraq. When Saddam fell and the U.S. flew Chalabi and his 
cronies to Iraq to take up positions of power, it was he who championed 
the plan to rid Iraq of all Baath Party influence, including civil 
servants, a policy that angered many an Iraqi and deprived the 
coalition of experienced workers.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time to distance ourselves from this man once and 
for all. Cut off his money. The taxpayers deserve a refund.

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