There are no second acts in American life. But for certain sleazeballs who inhabit the crazier regions of American foreign policy, there are interminable hideous soap operas:
In his latest remarkable political reincarnation, onetime U.S. favorite Ahmed Chalabi has secured a position inside the Iraqi government that could help determine whether the Bush administration's new push to secure Baghdad succeeds.
In a new post created earlier this year, Mr. Chalabi will serve as an intermediary between Baghdad residents and the Iraqi and U.S. security forces mounting an aggressive counterinsurgency campaign across the city. The position is meant to help Iraqis arrange reimbursement for damage to their cars and homes caused by the security sweeps in the hope of maintaining public support for the strategy.
I'd actually sort of expected Chalabi to be offered a fat contract for spot on the starting rotation of the Kansas City Royals. But this Baghdad gig sounds like it portends even greater opportunities for disaster!