Iraq: US, S. Arabia back Nazi-like Baathists

[joeblow]

Iraq: US, S. Arabia back Nazi-like Baathists
Sun, 14 Feb 2010 05:55:52 GMT

http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=1 ... =351020201



Iraq's Justice and Accountability Commission Head, Ahmed Chalabi


A senior Iraqi official says Washington and Riyadh are supporting the return of former Baath party members to power in a bid to counter what they call Iran's influence in the country.

Iraq's Justice and Accountability Commission Head, Ahmed Chalabi told Press TV that what motivates the United States and Saudi Arabia to back the return of Baathists to power is "their continuing conflict with Iran."

"They think that the presence of Baathists in the parliament of Iraq would be an important card in their hands to stop the so-called spreading influence of Iran in Iraq."

Chalabi went on to compare former dictator Saddam Hussein's Baath party to the Nazi party in Germany, saying "the Baath party in Iraq is a totalitarian racist party."

"They practiced genocide and killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and promoted war just like the Nazi party in Germany," said Chalabi.

"The crimes they committed in Iraq are comparable to the crimes that were committed by the Nazi party," he added.

His remarks follow a decision by an appellate court to ban 145 candidates from participating in parliamentary elections, expected on March 7, over ties to former Baath party.

The appeals panel reinstated only 26 of the 171 candidates, who appealed their disqualification last month by a parliamentary body, known as the Accountability and Justice Commission.

The committee barred 500 candidates from participation in election over 'ties Saddam Hussein's political and military apparatus.'

Amid the dispute last month, US Vice President Joe Biden paid a visit to Baghdad. His visit was aimed at persuading Iraqi officials to reverse the ban on candidates with alleged links to the Baath party, according to Chalabi.

He said the US attempts to reverse the ban made no headway with the Iraqi leadership.

SB/TG/DT
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