Raymond Odierno, the top US commander in Iraq, recently claimed that two senior Iraqi officials who were active in blacklisting Baathist suspects from elections, have ties to Iran. He alleges that Ahmed Chalabi is "influenced by Iran". For his part, Ahmed Chalabi has accused Washington of putting pressure on the commission in charge of vetting electoral candidates. Inside Iraq interviews Ahmed Chalabi and explores the geopolitical struggle between the US and Iran over influence in Iraq, asking Chalabi if he has accurately read the power shift in Iraq? Has he come to the conclusion that the drawdown of US forces will significantly diminish US influence in Iraq, and increase that of Iran?Does he ask himself: Why get stuck with a departing US when victory and good fortune awaits me with a rising Iran?This episode of Inside Iraq airs from Friday, February 26, 2010, at the following times GMT: Friday: 1730, 2230; Saturday: 0300, 0830; Sunday: 0600, 1230; Monday: 0130.
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