The Washington lobbying firm of Barbour Griffith & Rogers is pushing hard to have Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki replaced by their client, former interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.

A senior Bush administration official told CNN the White House is aware of the lobbying campaign by Barbour Griffith & Rogers because the firm is “blasting e-mails all over town” criticizing al-Maliki and promoting the firm’s client, former interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, as an alternative to al-Maliki.

But the senior administration official insisted that White House officials have “absolutely no involvement” in the campaign to remove al-Maliki, nor have they given it their blessing.

“There’s just no connection whatsoever,” the official said. “There’s absolutely no involvement.”

You see, Barbour Griffith & Rogers is described as a “Republican lobbying firm,” thus the media believes the White House is in on it and/or has some influence.

“I don’t think they asked the White House before they signed their contract with Mr. Allawi,” he [National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe] said.

Is the White House doing this?

The e-mails to congressional staffers came from the e-mail address DrAyadAllawi@Allawi-for-Iraq.com.

But the bottom of the e-mail added this note of disclosure to congressional aides: “Barbour Griffith & Rogers, LLC has filed registration statements under the Foreign Agents Registration Act with regard to its representation and dissemination of information on behalf of Dr. Ayad Allawi.”

“Yes, in fact, we recently filed forms with FARA,” Henick told CNN.

Oh, it’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it.