With Arrival of Team Carville, Iraqi Elections Turn Negative

As Iraqi elections draw ever nearer, citizens of that country are being introduced to an ugly political reality: negative campaigning works. Some top American political operatives are on hand to introduce Iraqis to the fine art of mudslinging.

Iraqis decry negative ads, political mudslinging

By: Elke Drumfeld, Middle East Correspondent

BAGHDAD—After living through a year and a half of war and insurgency, Baghad resident Sami Al-Amiri thought that she'd seen it all. But then the mother of four and resident of that city's exclusive Mansour district, saw something on Al-Sharqiya television that shocked her: four anonymous Iraqi men attacking interim president and presidential candidate Iyad Allawi. "I have never seen such a thing. The men didn't say their names and they attacked Allawi's honor," says Al-Amiri.

AUDIO for "Iraqi Veterans for Truth" advertisement
Aired beginning 12/22/04 on Al-Sharqiya TV, BaghdadAnnouncer: They served their country with courage and distinction. They’re the men who served with Iyad Allawi in the battle against the Iranian invader and in the fight against internal subversion. Announcer: They’re his entire chain of command, most of the officers in Allawi’s section, even the interrogator from his unit of the Mukhabarat. Announcer: They were also decorated by the supreme leader. Many very highly.  But they kept their medals. Announcer: And they’re the men who’ve spent more than a year in American prison camps. They lost their jobs for refusing to confess to being the war criminals that Allawi tried to brand them as. Announcer: Today they are teachers, farmers, businessman, imams and community leaders. And of course, fathers and grandfathers. Announcer: With nothing to gain for themselves, except the satisfaction that comes with telling the truth, they have come forward to talk about the Iyad Allawi they know. Announcer: Because to them honesty and character still matters. . . especially in a time of war. Announcer: Iraqi Veterans for Truth are responsible for the content of this advertisement.

But what bothered Al-Amiri most was the scene's climatic end, triggered by a dramatic fade to black and an ominous announcement: "Iraqi Veterans for Truth are responsible for the content of this advertisement."

Hired guns
Welcome to the brave new world of Iraqi politics, where shadowy organizations lob rhetorical bombs at the front-running candidates and highly-paid political operatives call the shots. If it sounds vaguely familiar, that's because some of the best-known political consultants from the US have now set up camp in Iraq. With the American presidential election behind them, they've moved their headquarters from Washington DC's infamous K Street to Baghdad's Rashid Street.

Recently spotted at a Baghdad kebab shop: James Carville, perhaps the single most prominent political consultant in the US. Known for his "take no prisoners" style—he was honored as Campaign Manager of the Year by the American Association of Political Consultants for his leadership of Clinton's campaign "War Room"—Carville is said to be advising the Assembly of Independent Democrats led by US State Department favorite Adnan Pachachi.

As for whether Carville is the brains behind the Iraqi Veterans for Truth advertisement that's been dominating Baghdad airwaves since mid-December, no one on the "Rajun Cajun's" staff is talking. Nor has there been any sign of Carville's wife, Republican Party operative, Mary Matalin. But family friends say that they wouldn't be surprised if the notoriously fearless Matalin joined hubby Carville in Baghdad. "She's been in the middle of unbelievable conflict," says one family associate. "She used to be the host of Crossfire."

Political dead-enders
Carville isn't the only hired gun from Washington to set up shop in this city on the Tigris. Bob Shrum, advisor to John Kerry during the recent presidential election, is said to have begun looking for an Iraqi candidate to advise soon after Kerry conceded defeat. But finding a good match hasn't been easy, says Mussab Al-Khairalla, a spokesman for the Baghdad office of Shrum, Devine & Donilon, Shrum's stateside consultancy.

"We've had some feelers out there," says al-Khairalla. "I think that perhaps things are a bit different here than in the US. Iraqis like to cast their lot with a winner. When they hear that someone has been associated with so many losers, they ask 'why should we hire him?'" When they learn of Shrum's 0-8 record in presidential campaigns, says Al-Khairalla, the other American advisors look better by comparison. "We have an old proverb here: 'If I show you death, you'll accept the fever,'" he says.

For now, Shrum is working on a contingency basis with the League of Iraqi Turkmen Lords and Tribes led by Abd Al-Hammed Al-Bayati, widely considered a long shot in the upcoming elections. The former Kerry aid is said to be trying to build support for the Turkmen Lords and Tribes in Fallujah by reaching out to environmental groups in that city.

Allawi's brain?
Democratic operatives aren't the only consultants who've been showing up in Baghdad. Dick Morris, former Clinton advisor turned Democratic party critic, has been spotted lately in the city's Karada neighborhood, now home to "consultants' row." Morris is reportedly advising the Liberal Republicans Party led by Hussein Al-Mosawi.

One star operative is notable in his absence: Karl Rove, the adviser to President Bush who is referred to by his admirers as the "boy genius"—a reflection of his cherubic appearance and political acumen.

Al-Khairalla, the Baghdad spokesman for Shrum, Devine & Donilon, says that he'd kill to see Rove in action. "He is a strategic mastermind. No one has had the kind of success building and mobilizing 'al-qaeda' that Karl Rove has," he says, using the Arabic words for 'the base.'  "The way he fired up the base in your election, I was in awe."

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[neshura]

The best satire is the story that everyone believes...keep 'em coming!