Can anyone come up with a parallel to this in history? The closest I can think of is the famous Patton slap, which is really a minor blip in history when compared to Chalabi visiting our troops. It is unquestionably a shameless display of galling chutzpah, but we’re supposed to be used to that I suppose.

Thanks to sharp-eyed Laura at War and Piece for the link. Reuters seems to be the only news source that has the story so far. Somebody send the cameras to document it. I read the story as saying this is going to happen tomorrow, although its a little unclear — perhaps it was today.

[Ahmed] Chalabi planned to visit wounded U.S. soldiers from the Iraq war at Walter Reed Army Hospital, an organizer said. Both men have held separate meetings with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Mahdi is to meet Vice President Dick Cheney on Friday.