Spreading Freedom, Democracy and...Election Fraud?

According to the New York Times, President Bush had planned to secretly support certain candidates in the Iraqi election. What of the promise of "free and unfettered" elections? The President had either already signed the authorization or was about to, but Congress reportedly objected so much that the administration had to cancel the plan.
The President and his people planned to influence an election, secretly and illegally, for heaven knows what reasons.

EDIT: If you can't get to the NYTimes story, here is another version at yahoo news.