The Independent says that Allawi "is the person through whom the controversial claim was channelled that Iraqi weapons of mass destruction could be operational in 45 minutes."

I give him some dues for trying to take on Saddam, though, and who cares really if he managed to dupe the idiots in the CIA into helping him. What really matters is that Rumsfeld & Co tried to dupe the world into believing it was a serious claim.

Also, he is related to Chalabi, although apparently not close.

The BBC says he has the advantage of being equally mistrusted by everyone.

"Religious leaders think he is too secular, the US-led coalition now sees him as a critic, for the anti-Saddam opposition he is an ex-Baathist, while ordinary Iraqis say he is a CIA man. "

Poor Iraqis. He sounds like just what they don't need right now.