Iraqi's go to the polls tomorrow

[30ashopper]

BAGHDAD ? Four years ago, Iraq had its purple finger moment, when voters proudly displayed their ink-stained index fingers as proof that they had participated in the nation?s first free elections in decades.

Four years ago, balloting took place in nearly all-consuming violence. It was further tainted by a Sunni Arab boycott, which limited the number of voters and office seekers alike.

This time around, the ballot will be crowded ? 14,428 candidates are competing for 440 seats ? and the vote comes during Iraq?s most peaceful period since the American invasion in 2003.

Instead of purple fingers, the indelible image for this year?s election may well be the tens of thousands of candidates? posters glued to the nation?s blast walls. (In 2005, it was too dangerous for most candidates to reveal their faces.) The 12-foot-tall walls, built to contain damage caused by car bombs and other explosives, have now become the primary campaign forum for Iraq?s raw, young democracy.

In all, more than 14 million voters are eligible to take part in the nation?s provincial elections on Saturday for local councils in 14 of Iraq?s 18 provinces.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/31/world/middleeast/31primer.html?ref=middleeast

I'd just like to say, to everyone who voted for Bush in 2004 and to the men and women who fought to free Iraq, my heartfelt thanks and salutations. You are the reason these folks are voting in a free election tomorrow. To the friends and family members of men and women who passed away in this brutal war, my heartfelt thoughts, prayers, and tears. Take heart in knowing your loved ones died freeing a country and its people from tyranny. Your loved ones did not die in vain, you should feel proud.

 

[Bob]

there must be an alternate universe somewhere close

 

[traderx]

there must be an alternate universe somewhere close

Yes, where everything is backwards. You are the lucky one. Your name would still be Bob. Except it would be boB.

 

[hnooe]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/31/world/middleeast/31primer.html?ref=middleeast

I'd just like to say, to everyone who voted for Bush in 2004 and to the men and women who fought to free Iraq, my heartfelt thanks and salutations.

You are the reason these folks are voting in a free election tomorrow. To the friends and family members of men and women who passed away in this brutal war, my heartfelt thoughts, prayers, and tears. Take heart in knowing your loved ones died freeing a country and its people from tyranny. Your loved ones did not die in vain, you should feel proud.[/quote]
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Another empty, rhetorical, and sanctimonius armchair view of the world, complete with American flag in one hand and and martini glass in the other. Have you now been hired by Rove, Hughes, etc al. to become another "legacy" magician for the failed Bush presidency???

Shame on you is all I have to say! Absolute shame.

 

[Bob]

freedom sure is expensive when you deliver it via smartbomb

 

[sunspotbaby]

14,000 + on the ballots!

 

[30ashopper]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/31/world/middleeast/31primer.html?ref=middleeast

I'd just like to say, to everyone who voted for Bush in 2004 and to the men and women who fought to free Iraq, my heartfelt thanks and salutations.

You are the reason these folks are voting in a free election tomorrow. To the friends and family members of men and women who passed away in this brutal war, my heartfelt thoughts, prayers, and tears. Take heart in knowing your loved ones died freeing a country and its people from tyranny. Your loved ones did not die in vain, you should feel proud.[/quote]
__________________________________________________________

Another empty, rhetorical, and sanctimonius armchair view of the world, complete with American flag in one hand and and martini glass in the other. Have you now been hired by Rove, Hughes, etc al. to become another "legacy" magician for the failed Bush presidency???

Shame on you is all I have to say! Absolute shame.

Actually its more of a "2004 and up" view of things. You have to remember I didn't support the original invasion. I'm just happy we didn't abandon that country, I can only imagine how we'd feel about it today if we had.

It looks like the elections went well -

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Iraqi PM hails vote as 'victory'

 

[30ashopper]

BAGHDAD — Iraqis voted on Saturday for local representatives, on an almost violence-free election day aimed at creating provincial councils that more closely represent Iraq’s ethnic, sectarian and tribal balance. By nightfall, there were no confirmed deaths, and children played soccer on closed-off streets in a generally joyous atmosphere.

Security was extraordinary. Driving was banned in most of the country to prevent suicide bombers from targeting any of the more than 6,000 polling centers and security checkpoints, often spaced just yards apart. That, plus widespread confusion over where people should vote, appeared to reduce voter turnout, though it was unclear by how much.

Many parts of the country reported fairly light turnout in the morning, in the first voting for provincial candidates in four years. But turnout was high in Anbar Province, an overwhelmingly Sunni area where residents largely boycotted the 2005 national elections because of threats by insurgents and opposition to the American-led invasion. Sunnis’ participation now is considered critical to restoring balance to regional politics and perhaps undercutting a reason for violence.

“I just voted and I’m very happy,” Mukhalad Waleed, 35, said in the city of Ramadi, in Anbar. “We could not do the same thing the last time because of the insurgency.”
Halfway through the day, the government lifted the vehicle ban in some areas to allow voters to travel to polling stations farther afield. It also extended the voting period by an hour, until 6 p.m.

Results are not expected for several days, with politicians anxiously waiting to find out how many councils will change hands, and if widespread dissatisfaction voiced at religious parties will translate into fewer seats for them.

Interesting!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/world/middleeast/01iraq.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss