Scotsman.com News – Latest News – Strong turnout in Iraq elections — The fix is in. Er, I mean the votes are in. Go Democracy! Go!
Meanwhile with no real reporting outside the guarded IZ, do we really know anything about what went on? But if they are going to make up stories let’s make this election a huge success and get out. Run don’t walk.
Iraqis have voted in a historic parliamentary election, with strong turnout reported in Sunni Arab areas that had shunned balloting last January, bolstering US hopes of calming the insurgency enough to begin withdrawing troops.
Several explosions rocked Baghdad as the polls opened, including a large one near the heavily-fortified Green Zone that slightly injured two civilians and a US Marine, the US military said.
My favorite pictures were in the USA Today
On page 1A, the picture of a oamn giving the peace/victory sign with two ink-stained fingers got past me, initially. I chalked it up to sticking both fingers in the ink at the same time.
But the picture on 4a, captioned Some still unclear on “one man, one vote”. made me wonder about the picture on page 1A.
If the man pictured on page 4A really did vote ten times on behalf of his family members then Iraq is going to have one hell of a time proving there wasn’t massive ballot-stuffing going on.
Especially if everybody, not just authority-figures – like the policeman with ink on all ten fingers – is allowed to cast multiple, “family” votes.
Photos at World Picture News, Photographer is Jason P. Howe
http://www.worldpicturenews.com/web/news_index.aspx
He said a while back that nothing could be accomplished by the US presence there, and he’s still stuck there.
Why should we run away from a successful election?
There were fewer bombings, more voters, and more Iraqi soldiers doing the hard work.
All thats left to do is stop all the al-qaeda terrorists coming from outside the country to try and overthrow the new Iraqi government . Then it really will be “Mission Accomplished”.
Oh, thats right, the majority of posters to this blog seem to think we are losing 🙁
We?
The majority of Americans think You are losing.
The majority of the World knows You are a loser.
When all the politicians that don’t get elected, there will be disappointment. Then with those that make it into the Iraqi parliament, there will be bitter frustration as the give and take negotiations of governing take over. The voter fraud will be minor compared to what happens after the results are announced.
Damn I hope I’m wrong, but I think the shooting and bombing will again grow in less then five months. Unless a strong leader that can unite ALL Iraqis, not be an American toadie, and still respect democratic institutions emerges, there might very well end up being a civil war. And I truly hope I am wrong.
>strong leader that can unite ALL Iraqis, not be an American toadie, and still respect democratic institutions emerges,
Cuing SNL, you mean like Saddam Hussein? He held elections, and from his 100% vote in that election, he clearly united ALL Iraqis.