What kind of "election" is this????

[LoungeMachine]

I'm no expert [just ask ELVIS and BigBLINDBrian], but the more I read about this upcoming Iraqi "election" that the Bush Administration is touting, the more I question it's true purpose.

1 - There are no NAMES of candidates on the Ballots. Only part affiliation symbols

WHAT KIND OF DEMOCRACY WORKS THIS WAY?

2- The 4 provinces filled with the Sunnis arent even going to be able to vote relatively safely, and the Administration IS FINE WITH THIS

IMAGINE IF OHIO, TEXAS, NEVADA, AND NEBRASKA COULDNT VOTE

3- There will be no international election officials monitoring the election

HOW DOES THE WORLD EXPECT TO RECOGNIZE AN ELECTION WITHOUT MONITORS????

4- Does ANYBODY really expect Allawi NOT to win?????

Isnt this just another US puppet government being imposed??

Feel free to tell me how wrong I am.

[ELVIS]

I don't know the details of the process...

[LoungeMachine]

Originally posted by ELVIS
I don't know the details of the process...

....yet you support our men and women dying for it?????

[Nickdfresh]

You're not! THis election may spawn more civil war, a little Shiite on Sunni action with the U.S. Military with ring-side seats.

[ELVIS]

You people are incapable of being optimistic about anything...

It's amazing you leave the house to get to work in the morning...

[LoungeMachine]

Originally posted by ELVIS
You people are incapable of being optimistic about anything...

It's amazing you leave the house to get to work in the morning...

We WERE optomistic, but then we saw through the BULLSHIT

By all means, tell us what to be optomistic about the elections


No pie in the sky. be realistic for once.

[ELVIS]

Tuesday, January 25, 2005


How Kurds may get their way in long-awaited Iraq election

By Edmund Sanders

Los Angeles Times



SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq — In this Kurdish mountain capital, pictures of candidates appear in newspapers. Election-day celebrations are being planned. The biggest worry is whether bad weather on Sunday might clog the roads. (A fleet of snow blowers has been readied just in case.)

It's all in stark contrast to the rest of Iraq, where contestants are afraid to be identified, campaigning is underground and millions of voters are expected to steer clear of polls, either in protest or out of fear.

"There's a sense of gathering excitement among the Kurds over elections," said Barham Salih, Iraq's deputy prime minister and one of the highest-ranking Kurds in the current government. "Our aspirations are very high. It's an exciting moment in our history. This is the first time we Kurds have been allowed to take part in deciding the future of Iraq."

Political experts predict that Kurds will emerge as a major winner on election day because of strong voter turnout as a result of better security in their regions and a unified candidate slate that removed any threat of a split Kurdish vote. Kurds may not be the top vote-getters, but they are likely to win a sizable bloc that should give them a key role in selecting the new government.

"The Kurds are really the ones who could come out on top," said Hassan Bazaz, a political analyst at Baghdad University.

Their high prospects mark a stunning turnaround from the recent history of the Kurds, who were brutally oppressed under the previous regime.

Snapshot of Kurds


The Kurds are a distinct ethno-linguist group who have survived centuries of domination by Sumerians, Babylonians, Persians, Romans and Ottomans, generally maintaining some autonomy. After the defeat of the Ottomans in World War I, the great powers, primarily Britain, left Kurds living in three separate states: Iraq, Syria and Turkey.

The great majority of Kurds are Muslim, adhering to a variety of sects, with some Christians. The most famous Kurd in history is Saladin, who led the re-conquest of Jerusalem during the Crusades.

In the 1960s and '70s, the Iraqi government tried to diminish Kurdish influence by moving Arabs into the north. Kurds revolted in 1974 with help from Iran but were crushed when Iran abandoned them in exchange for a favorable redrawing of the border with Iraq. In 1980, Iraq went to war against Iran, which was backed by the Kurds. About 200,000 Kurds were killed, some by chemical weapons. After the 1991 cease-fire in the Gulf War that followed Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Kurds took advantage of the Shite revolt in the south and rebelled also. Saddam again killed thousands of Kurds until the United Nations established a safe haven, and the U.S. and Britain established a "no-fly" zone, permitting a well-armed resistance against Saddam.

Sources: Kurdish Human Rights Project, The Cultural Orientation Project


Fearful that Kurds might break away from Iraq and suspicious of their ties with the United States and Iran, Saddam Hussein embarked on a devastating campaign of genocide and deportation. Since the early 1990s, Kurds have lived in a semi-autonomous state protected by a U.S.-imposed no-fly zone in the north.
Now Kurds are preparing to resume a major role in Baghdad. At political offices here, officials and strategists are making optimistic back-of-the-envelope calculations. The only dispute seems to be exactly how well Kurds will do.

Nearly everyone here in the Kurdish north of the country expects they will garner at least the second-highest number of seats in the new parliament, perhaps 65-70 of the total 275, or about 25 percent of the assembly. Kurds account for about 15 percent of Iraq's population.

"We expect to do quite well," said Imad Ahmed, the deputy prime minister of Sulaymaniyah province.

One of the leading Shiite slates is expected to capture the No. 1 spot, but the Shiite vote may ultimately split between the United Iraqi Alliance, which is backed by the leading Shiite religious parties, and the Iraqi List, a secular alternative led by Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.

Low turnout in the rest of the country because of violence or fear may also result in a better performance for Kurds.

Either way, the Kurds should be in a strong position to help select the next prime minister, draft the constitution and settle such hotly disputed topics as who will control the disputed oil-rich northern city of Kirkuk.

Other major political parties in Iraq are already courting the Kurds, whose potential bloc of parliament seats will be a vital piece in forming a coalition to control the next government. Under the Transitional Administrative Law, major decisions by the new government will need approval from two-thirds of the assembly. The Kurds are attractive not only because they could be one of the largest blocs but also because their slate will likely be one of the most cohesive.

"The Kurds will be the kingmaker," said Adnan Pachachi, a leading Sunni Arab politician who heads his own slate of candidates.



HADI MIZBAN / AP

An Iraqi street vendor stands in front of a Baghdad wall covered with election posters of cleric Ali al-Sistani. He is the most dominant figure in this weekend's election.

The leading Shiite slate is mindful that the Kurds will be a critical partner after the election.

"We need the Kurds," said Saad Jawad, head of the political bureau of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq. "We won't need help getting a simple majority of 50 percent. We think we can get that alone. But we will need them to get to the two-thirds majority, which is more important."

Preliminary talks have taken place, but Shiites and Kurds are waiting to see how each does and how much support each brings to the table.

[LoungeMachine]

It's all for the Kurds.

I hope they know how much they owe us.


Asked and answered. Hats off to E.

[ELVIS]

[Nickdfresh]

Originally posted by ELVIS
Tuesday, January 25, 2005


How Kurds may get their way in long-awaited Iraq election

By Edmund Sanders

Los Angeles Times



SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq — In this Kurdish mountain capital, pictures of candidates appear in newspapers. Election-day celebrations are being planned. The biggest worry is whether bad weather on Sunday might clog the roads. (A fleet of snow blowers has been readied just in case.)

It's all in stark contrast to the rest of Iraq, where contestants are afraid to be identified, campaigning is underground and millions of voters are expected to steer clear of polls, either in protest or out of fear.

"There's a sense of gathering excitement among the Kurds over elections," said Barham Salih, Iraq's deputy prime minister and one of the highest-ranking Kurds in the current government. "Our aspirations are very high. It's an exciting moment in our history. This is the first time we Kurds have been allowed to take part in deciding the future of Iraq."

Political experts predict that Kurds will emerge as a major winner on election day because of strong voter turnout as a result of better security in their regions and a unified candidate slate that removed any threat of a split Kurdish vote. Kurds may not be the top vote-getters, but they are likely to win a sizable bloc that should give them a key role in selecting the new government.

"The Kurds are really the ones who could come out on top," said Hassan Bazaz, a political analyst at Baghdad University.

Their high prospects mark a stunning turnaround from the recent history of the Kurds, who were brutally oppressed under the previous regime.

Snapshot of Kurds


The Kurds are a distinct ethno-linguist group who have survived centuries of domination by Sumerians, Babylonians, Persians, Romans and Ottomans, generally maintaining some autonomy. After the defeat of the Ottomans in World War I, the great powers, primarily Britain, left Kurds living in three separate states: Iraq, Syria and Turkey.

The great majority of Kurds are Muslim, adhering to a variety of sects, with some Christians. The most famous Kurd in history is Saladin, who led the re-conquest of Jerusalem during the Crusades.

In the 1960s and '70s, the Iraqi government tried to diminish Kurdish influence by moving Arabs into the north. Kurds revolted in 1974 with help from Iran but were crushed when Iran abandoned them in exchange for a favorable redrawing of the border with Iraq. In 1980, Iraq went to war against Iran, which was backed by the Kurds. About 200,000 Kurds were killed, some by chemical weapons. After the 1991 cease-fire in the Gulf War that followed Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Kurds took advantage of the Shite revolt in the south and rebelled also. Saddam again killed thousands of Kurds until the United Nations established a safe haven, and the U.S. and Britain established a "no-fly" zone, permitting a well-armed resistance against Saddam.

Sources: Kurdish Human Rights Project, The Cultural Orientation Project


Fearful that Kurds might break away from Iraq and suspicious of their ties with the United States and Iran, Saddam Hussein embarked on a devastating campaign of genocide and deportation. Since the early 1990s, Kurds have lived in a semi-autonomous state protected by a U.S.-imposed no-fly zone in the north.
Now Kurds are preparing to resume a major role in Baghdad. At political offices here, officials and strategists are making optimistic back-of-the-envelope calculations. The only dispute seems to be exactly how well Kurds will do.

Nearly everyone here in the Kurdish north of the country expects they will garner at least the second-highest number of seats in the new parliament, perhaps 65-70 of the total 275, or about 25 percent of the assembly. Kurds account for about 15 percent of Iraq's population.

"We expect to do quite well," said Imad Ahmed, the deputy prime minister of Sulaymaniyah province.

One of the leading Shiite slates is expected to capture the No. 1 spot, but the Shiite vote may ultimately split between the United Iraqi Alliance, which is backed by the leading Shiite religious parties, and the Iraqi List, a secular alternative led by Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.

Low turnout in the rest of the country because of violence or fear may also result in a better performance for Kurds.

Either way, the Kurds should be in a strong position to help select the next prime minister, draft the constitution and settle such hotly disputed topics as who will control the disputed oil-rich northern city of Kirkuk.

Other major political parties in Iraq are already courting the Kurds, whose potential bloc of parliament seats will be a vital piece in forming a coalition to control the next government. Under the Transitional Administrative Law, major decisions by the new government will need approval from two-thirds of the assembly. The Kurds are attractive not only because they could be one of the largest blocs but also because their slate will likely be one of the most cohesive.

"The Kurds will be the kingmaker," said Adnan Pachachi, a leading Sunni Arab politician who heads his own slate of candidates.



HADI MIZBAN / AP

An Iraqi street vendor stands in front of a Baghdad wall covered with election posters of cleric Ali al-Sistani. He is the most dominant figure in this weekend's election.

The leading Shiite slate is mindful that the Kurds will be a critical partner after the election.

"We need the Kurds," said Saad Jawad, head of the political bureau of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq. "We won't need help getting a simple majority of 50 percent. We think we can get that alone. But we will need them to get to the two-thirds majority, which is more important."

Preliminary talks have taken place, but Shiites and Kurds are waiting to see how each does and how much support each brings to the table.

What do we do if the Kurds push for autonomy and then the Turks get pissed off and attack in what is now Northern Iraq?

[LoungeMachine]

Originally posted by Nickdfresh
What do we do if the Kurds push for autonomy and then the Turks get pissed off and attack in what is now Northern Iraq?

You pessimist, Nick:D

It'll all work out fine.

God sent George.

[ELVIS]

*Yawn*

[Nickdfresh]

Originally posted by LoungeMachine
You pessimist, Nick:D

It'll all work out fine.

God sent George.

Praise GAUD!

[FORD]

Re: What kind of "election" is this????

Originally posted by LoungeMachine

IMAGINE IF OHIO, TEXAS, NEVADA, AND NEBRASKA COULDNT VOTE

Well, the BCE runs Texas, Chuck Hagel's own ESS machines dominate Nebraska and we all know how fucked up Ohio was. I'm not sure about Nevada though, but I would imagine the mob runs the elections there like they do everything else.

[Angel]

Originally posted by LoungeMachine
It's all for the Kurds.

I hope they know how much they owe us.


Asked and answered. Hats off to E.

The chemical weapons that Saddam used against the Kurds were supplied by the US. Who owes whom?