Chalabi: “The Ends Justify the Means”
During an interview, Mr. Chalabi, by far the most effective anti-Saddam lobbyist in Washington, shrugged off charges that he had deliberately misled U.S. intelligence.
“We are heroes in error,” he said in Baghdad on Wednesday. “As far as we’re concerned, we’ve been entirely successful.”
“Our objective has been achieved. That tyrant Saddam is gone, and the Americans are in Baghdad. What was said before is not important.”
Mr. Chalabi added: “The Bush administration is looking for a scapegoat. We’re ready to fall on our swords if [President Bush] wants.”
His comments are likely to inflame the debate on both sides of the Atlantic over the quality of prewar intelligence, and over the way it was presented by Mr. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair as they argued for military action.
I really hate reading articles like this. If this is even remotely correct that the Iraqi National Congress fed us hyped information, then Mr. Chalabi and his supporters can (and should) expect a backseat in the new Iraqi government. Yes, we had a legitimate reason to go to war in Iraq, but the truth need not be exaggerated.