Who is Ahmad Chalabi, the man itching to be the next president of Iraq? I read a glowing profile, or so it seemed, in Vanity Fair a few months ago. I'd never heard of the man before, so I reserved any judgment. However it's recently come to light that he's a convicted felon, accussed of bank fraud and embezzlement of US$ 70 million from Jordan's Petra Bank. Well, why not? It seems the Bush administration has a soft spot for crooks. North, Abrams, Lay, Poindexter... and now Chalabi.

Obviously the situation isn't as cut-and-dry as that, I'm sure there are other factors to be considered. Time will tell..