Ahmed Chalabi: "The US has put very narrow foreign policy interests in its relationship with Iraq over the will of Iraqi people ..."

Iran's Press-TV

Press TV: Why do you equate the Baathists to the Nazis?

Chalabi: Baath party in Iraq is a totalitarian, racist party that practiced dictatorship based on secret society tactics and is based on conspiracy and taking of power by force. Just like the Nazi party they also practiced genocide and they killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and they promoted war just like the Nazi party in Germany as a way to solve crisis and international problems and the crimes they committed in Iraq.

Press TV: Why do think Washington has been behind a lot of pressure on the Iraqi government into allowing these individuals who have been affiliated with the Baath party to run for office?

Chalabi: It is unfortunate that the United States has put very narrow foreign policy interests in its relationship with Iraq over the will of Iraqi people. I believe that what the US is following in this regard is the continuing conflict towards Iran. They think that the presence of Baathists in the government and parliament of Iraq would be important card in their hands in stopping the so called spreading influence of Iran in Iraq.

Press TV: What is your take on the claim that this move of disqualifying individuals who have connections with the Baath party has been political?

Chalabi: I reject this statement that elimination of those candidates from running was by political motives. The Justice & Accountability Commission implements the law according to the constitution.

Press TV: As far as Shia role in the Iraqi government, that wasn't the US intention. Did they not foresee exactly where this government would go as far as the makeup of the population of Iraq, and if that is the case, both the US and Saudi Arabia supported the move to overthrow Saddam Hussein; Why the move then and why the change now?

Chalabi: When the US decided to declare the occupation of Iraq, or to support the formation of a provisional government for they can do some political engineering in Iraq. And I think a lot of that decision, rational was made because of the US and Britain for that matter, for the Arab states would be opposed to a provisional control that was controlled by the Iraqi opposition that was largely made up of Shias and Kurds. However, this was a mistake. The US could not change the political outlook of the Iraqi people just because they had occupied the country and the unity of the Iraqi people forced the process of starting back towards sovereignty and full independence first via Resolution 1546 in the United Nations and then through agreements that was made subsequently by ending the US security role in Iraq.

I don't think that Saudi Arabia was very supportive of the overthrow of Saddam. You must remember that did not let the United States use their territory to mass troops and stage military action against Saddam forces. The Saudis said they do not defend Saddam but they were concerned about what would come after Saddam and I think they continue to be concerned, unnecessarily in my view, about the current situation in Iraq and the prospects for the next government.

Press TV: Let's look at the consequences for Iraq and regional countries, if the Baathists were to come back or become actively involved in Iraqi politics, what scenario you foresee could take place?

Chalabi: I see oppression, genocide and conflict coming back to Iraq and the region and I see major loss of lives in acts of political oppression inside Iraq and I see further waste of Iraq's resources and further decline of the quality of life of Iraqi people.