Chalabi Protest Today (Updated)

Steve Clemons suggests a citizen’s arrest, or at least a protest, when Ahmed Chalabi shows up to speak at the American Enterprise Institute this afternoon.

Chalabi played the United States government for fools in getting us involved in Iraq and making sure everything worked out to the advantage of his friends in Iran, and after going through a series of ups and downs with the Bush administration (including an arrest warrant against him) now hopes to become prime minister of Iraq.

If you want to be part of the welcoming party, show up outside AEI, 1150 17th Street NW (17th and M, near the Farragut North and Farragut West Metro stations) by 2pm today.

Update (12:30 am): I stopped by this afternoon. Photos after the jump.

For quite a while there was nothing to see but a bunch of people who mostly looked like stereotypical besuited young conservatives, with AEI name tags. I did see Matthew Yglesias, but by the time I realized who he was he’d disappeared inside to report on Chalabi’s speech.

Eventually, a group representing Code Pink, Progressive Democrats of America, and other organizations showed up with a large pink banner (modified for the occasion by changing “Bush” to “Chalabi”):

They were accompanied by a man with a bullhorn, who led them in reciting

Cheney and Chalabi, telling lies,
Profit from war while thousands die.
We are here to speak the truth.
Chalabi lied — you’ve seen the proof.
No chocolates, flowers, or WMDs.
We demand an apology!

They also passed out copies of a letter, which they later read aloud.

Chalabi’s small motorcade arrived and went into the garage, avoiding the main entrance, so there was no confrontation and we didn’t get to see the man.

More photos at Democracy Cell Project.