Allawi Bid Surrounded by Tension and Violence

Pressure is mounting on Iyad Allawi, the favored candidate of the West in the December elections in Iraq: Earlier in the month he was mobbed by an angry crowd of hardline Shiites A report from the Independent revealed the British are trying to stall an investigation into a massive arms swindle that happened on his watch (the idea being to help him get across the December 15 finish line). His offices were stormed and torched by gunmen on Thursday Say what you will about him, he's a brave man for even pursuing the job at all.