The World's First Coup D'Internet

I've been following political uses of the Internet since the very beginning, but this one is a shocker. A top GOP lobbying firm in DC is using the Internet to overthrow Prime Minister Maliki. Shall we call it a Coup D'Internet?

Right-Wing Operatives Plot To Overthrow Maliki, Replace Him With Reliable Collaborator Allawi

The powerful Republican lobbying group of Barbour Griffith & Rogers is plotting an effort to displace Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and supplant him with former interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. IraqSlogger reported:

BGR’s work for Allawi includes the August 17 purchase of the Web site domain Allawi-for-Iraq.com.

In recent days, BGR sent hundreds of e-mail messages in Allawi’s name from the e-mail address DrAyadAllawi@Allawi-for-Iraq.com.

I had trouble believing this so I tried to visit Allawi-for-Iraq.com. Sure enough it has been registered, but it is under construction. Then I checked WHOIS and sure enough, the site is owned by BGR.

Until now, American coup d'etats were done by the CIA and in secret. Why?

For starters, the guy you're trying to overthrow usually has a military, and said military usually think it's perfectly ok to use their weapons to kill anyone trying to overthrow their Commander-in-Chief, either at home or abroad. Has BGR built itself a hardened underground bunker capable of withstanding an Iraqi military attack?

Second, the Logan Act passed in 1799 prohibits private U.S. citizens from engaging in foreign policy. The proverbial ham sandwich could convict BGR of breaking this law.

So what on earth is going on here?

Obviously Bush has "decidered" to throw Maliki under the bus:

On Thursday, the administration is planning to make public parts of a sober new report by American intelligence agencies expressing deep doubts that the Maliki government can overcome sectarian differences. Government officials who have seen the report say it gives a bleak outlook on the chances Mr. Maliki can meet milestones intended to promote unity in Iraq.

But Bush doesn't want to dump Maliki publicly because he'd appear to be caving to Hillary Clinton:

On Wednesday, as a second Democratic senator, Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, called for Mr. Maliki to quit, he lashed out at American lawmakers who have questioned his competence.

Also Bush has repeatedly called Maliki the "right man for the job" and staged photo ops with him at the White House. And Bush certainly doesn't want to flip-flop like John Kerry!

Mr. Bush — who on Tuesday confessed to “a certain level of frustration” with the Iraqi government — responded by using Wednesday’s speech to try to shore up Mr. Maliki. “Prime Minister Maliki is a good guy, a good man with a difficult job,” he said, “and I support him.”

So Bush wants Maliki gone, but doesn't want to do the dirty deed himself. Like everything else, Bush has outsourced this Coup D'Etat. 

But if BGR doesn't have its own troops, how exactly will they pull off this coup? Are they just hoping to scare Maliki into retiring? Is unveiling Allawi-for-Iraq.com the Internet version of putting a Godfather-style horse's head in Maliki's bed? When the site is built, will it feature a photoshopped version of Maliki's head in a noose - in case they think Maliki is too stupid to take a hint?

If so, that speaks volumes about how pathetic Bush's Iraq policy has become, and how little influence he has over the Iraqi government. In the good old days, U.S. Ambassadors delivered not-so-subtle messages like this in private. Is Maliki refusing to meet with Ambassador Crocker, thus requiring web sites to get his attention? Will Bush buy the search term "Maliki" in hopes of catching him Googling?

If I were Maliki, I'd reply in kind by registering domains like Allawi-Is-A-U-S-Puppet.com, Over-My-Dead-Body.com, and - going right to the source - Go-Cheney-Yourself.com.

Or if he wants to hit Bush where it really hurts, try Gore-For-America.com.