President Obama’s willingness to talk with Iran is considered a change of course, but did President Bush also do so behind the scenes? In an interview with Dar Al-Hayat, Ahmad al-Chalabi, the Iraqi politician who clamored for the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, says “I am convinced that Saddam would not have fallen except for an implicit agreement between America and Iran.” When asked if this happened, Chalabi says “of course it did” and that he, the Supreme Council, and Jalal Talbani worked on it. Chalabi also describes Bush as “a man with very little skill and knowledge.” In 2004, it was reported that Chalabi gave US state secrets to Iran, though he denies the charges.
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