First the United States, now Iraq. I guess Republican power lust knows no bounds.

This explains Bush's Return to the Moon and Mars Initiative. After the GOP seizes control the Earth (and fullfilling their long-sought dream putting the U.N. out of business), they'll have two more places to assimilate.

Wow- remember when people denied that the Iraqi government was a 'puppet for the U.S.'? Now you have a former Prime Minister, chosen by the White House, paying a U.S. PR Firm to lobby the U.S. Congress and White House and undermine the current PM. This is despicable.

Also, Allawi-for-iraq.com is owned by Barbour Griffith & Rogers, Inc , according to WHOIS records.

It seems inappropriate to me, to put it mildly, for a corporation in the US to take money from a foreign political operative in exchange for political services, namely to alter the declared policies of the US Government. "So what?" some might say. "The lobbyist is merely expressing a point of view. All points of view should be heard."

My problem is that the policies that are urged on Congress by the lobbyist are for hire. Pay the lobbyist a little more and he will argue, with equal sincerity, for the opposing point of view. While looking for a noun to describe this behavior, I thought that "treason" was a little too strong a term, but "treachery" seems appropriate. "Willful betrayal of fidelity, confidence, or trust" says the book. This lobbyist is looking my Representative right in the face (over a plate of salmon glace smothered in hummingbird tongues) and telling him that it is best for the USA - his nation - to do this or that because he was paid to plant that idea in every political head.

hmmmmm . . . . . anybody suspect Rove's involvement? Naaaaaa . . . . .

Looks like Hillary Clinton is in good company with wanting to overthrow Iraq's leader…

So Bush failed to export democracy, but apparently he's succeeded in exporting Swiftboating.

CNN has confirmed..

Well we can take that to the bank, not distortion here. Right….??

And all along I was lead to believe the government in Iraq was a democracy where the Iraqi citizens vote for their leader. Imagine my embarrassment when I found out an American lobbying firm actually gets to choose who leads Iraq. That type of government has a name and it ain't democracy.

Terry in El Paso:

Your description of a lobbyist sounds like the description of a lawyer. They too can argue both sides of an issue with a straight face and appear to be absolutely sincere. That's probably why a lot of lawyers are lobbyists…..and why a lot of lawyers run for public office. Much to our dismay unfortunately.

Terry from El Paso writes:

“It seems inappropriate…for a corporation in the US to take money from a foreign political operative in exchange for political services”

I totally agree, Terry. It’s sick. But it’s also standard operation procedure in Washington, D.C.

Let’s not forget that Fred Thompson was a lobbyist for Haitian strongman Jean-Bertrand Aristide, as well as foreign mining and automotive corporations.

This figures.

Impeach. I want the lobbying firm that will work for that, in regards to our idiot and chief.

spinstopper .. care to prove that distortion allegation about CNN?

Hell, care to prove ANY allegation you've EVER levied against ANYONE on these threads?

Yeah … I didn't think so!

[...] but the problems in Iraq are much, much larger than him. The neo-cons who seem to think that if they just repalace al-Maliki that everything will be fine in Iraq are truly out of touch with reality. I will repeat what I've said earlier however; [...]

WAKE UP EVERY ONE, THIS CRAP IS ALL ABOUT GIVING BUSH AN OUT.REMEMBER HOW HE STUCK WITH BROWNIE, RUMMY, WOLFAWICH. ETC. ETC.

[...] official acknowledged the White House is aware of the lobbying campaign because the firm is "blasting e-mails all over town" criticizing Maliki and promoting Allawi. "But the administration official insisted [...]

this is absurd… why are we trying to undermine another country's duly elected officials… what does it matter so long as they've got democracy!!!!!

Iraq is a mistake all together, we are fighting a war that devices our nation, it creates lack of joint spport, death, economic problems, we are the nation of nations and we can,t seem to come to an agreement in our own goverment, how can we then try to change another cpuntry's way of thinking.

Nelson Polit
Bakersfiield, CA
CA

[...] One gets the impression more and more that Republicans - and thus the White House - want to replace al-Maliki. Instead of just criticizing al-Maliki, a lobbying firm owned by Republicans is now calling for [...]

[...] no connection whatsoever," the official said. "There's absolutely no involvement. Republican firm lobbying to undermine Maliki This entry is filed under National News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the [...]

Very nice journalism here from CNN. Keep it coming.

Unfortunately a puppet government cannot succeed in a power vacuum. Maliki is not just seen exactly as a puppet by Iraqis (which is most important problem he has since his office will never be respected by Iraqis), but he is only still in power by means of the US military keeping him in power. My prediction is he's gone (one way or another) by early September; for sure before the "Petraeus Report" so that Bush can show replacing inneffective Maliki as "progress".

[...] gets the impression more and more that Republicans - and thus the White House - want to replace al-Maliki. Instead of just criticizing al-Maliki, a lobbying firm owned by Republicans is now calling for [...]

[...] Allawi as our new "native Mohammedan" who currently has the convenient backing of the most powerful GOP lobbying firm in the country.  He's got a lot of things going for him.  He's demonstrated his obedience to [...]

How does Allawi afford the services of this lobbying firm? It has got to be very expensive and the man has never held a real job in his life. I hope CNN follows the money and discovers who is paying for this campaign.

First of all, if Iraq has a constitution and has held elections, as President Bush has said, then this guy is lobbying in the wrong country. I used the email in the article to write to him and tell him just that. I think everybody should do the same.

Secondly, as Glenn Greenwald points out, CNN did not disclose on screen that Zelikow was lobbying for the very comment that he made, instead identified only as a "Former Counselor to the State Department." That is deceitful and outrageous that someone is lobbying for the very thing he is so Seriously and Confidently putting forth as a change in our government's stance, and that CNN didn't say so. Shame on you, CNN.

You didn't expect us to export democracy in its purest form did you? It would be neglectful of us not to give them a 'mature' form of our government saddled with all of the corruption big money can bring to it. If they ever get up and running by themselves, with their mineral reserves think what their version of "Big Oil" will do over there. Probably show our guys a few new tricks.

Maliki will have to borrow a line from Scooby-Doo soon…. "And I would STILL be PM if not for those meddling kids"

Have a great weekend,

Chip

[...] spontaneously turned on to the idea is, in fact, coordinated. Mr. Allawi, it turns out, in a great piece of reporting by CNN, actually hired the top GOP lobbying firm in the country, founded by former GOP Party Chair and [...]