Quote:
Originally posted by FlamesAddiction+Nov 25 2004, 04:03 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (FlamesAddiction @ Nov 25 2004, 04:03 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Cowperson@Nov 24 2004, 08:52 PM
So . . . . you're saying there should be no security at polling stations in Iraq?
Is that what you were saying about security at polling stations in Afghanistan?
Cowperson
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Is what I am saying is that an election is practically useless until Iraqi society is tempered enough to make such drastic security unnecessary. An election under the current conditions is only a facade since many people will indeed be deterred by the "security". [/b][/quote]
In your original post, it looked like you were inferring
"heavily armed U.S. and pro-U.S. mercenaries" were going to gun down
"large numbers of people who are against the American supported candidates."
Did I miss what you were saying in that? It didn't look like it.
In fact, that's not an issue given plenty of anti-occupation parties - including Mucky al-Sadr, are forming alliances and clamouring now to get to the ballot boxes. They'll get their vote out and they appear to believe in the process and that it will be fair.
There are anti-American parties among both #####es and Sunni. You're forgetting that. There's also no logical reason to rig this ballot, particularly since it is only electing representatives to guide the country to the follow-up in December 2005.
An excellent example was a comment today from the chief of the Iraqi electoral commission, I believe, who said President Allawi was a USA lackey!!! Pretty funny. He also said he couldn't guarantee anyone's safety on election day. That's nice.
No . . . . the real issue here is what you identified in your second post: Will the climate be safe enough to stage these elections or is a delay warranted?
I think that's a great debate point. Its what everyone is wondering about. People won't be worried about being gunned down by the Yanks. They'll be worried about the crazies who have stated they do not want a ballot. Put the danger point where it needs to lie.
Nevertheless, it appears these elections will happen on January 30, with a December, 2005 followup.
They said it couldn't be done in Afghanistan. It was and it was embraced by the people there. This will undoubtedly be tougher. And probably bloodier. I'm sitting back waiting with interest as to how it turns out.
By the way, the Globe & Mail today had a story saying Canada is in negotiations to play the lead role in overseeing the elections in Iraq.
And chief terrorist al-Zarqawi is complaining of the silence from Muslim clerics over the USA storming of Fallouja. Biting the hand that feeds him? People just getting tired of him and seeing what he's really about?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto.../International/
Cowperson