WP: Sunni Party Pulls Out of Iraq Vote As Doubts Grow

[kskiska]

Tuesday, December 28, 2004; Page A01

BAGHDAD, Dec. 27 -- The largest political party representing Iraq's Sunni Muslim minority announced Monday that it would drop out of the Jan. 30 election, dealing a fresh blow to the vote's credibility on the same day the top Shiite Muslim candidate survived a car bombing.

The withdrawal of the Iraqi Islamic Party, combined with the assassination attempt on cleric Abdul Aziz Hakim, heightened concerns that the parliamentary election may produce a lopsided result, further alienating Sunni areas where the armed insurgency is growing.

The need for adequate Sunni participation has become a central issue a month before the election, seen by the United States and Iraq's interim leadership as pivotal to creating a stable government. On Monday, Osama bin Laden added his voice to those of Sunni clerics urging Iraqis to boycott the ballot, saying "anyone who takes part in this election consciously and willingly is an infidel."

Bin Laden issued the warning on an audiotape aired on the al-Jazeera satellite television network. In Washington, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell encouraged "all Sunnis and all Sunni leaders to join in this effort, to say no to terrorism, no to murder and yes to democracy."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28323-2004Dec27.html

[pfitz59]

1. Elections are a sham.....

Bremer's 100 orders will govern country no matter what puppet gets the BFEE seal of approval.

[Born Free]

4. worse than Ohio

These so called elections are nothing more than an illusion, they will make the Ohio situation look like democracy as the bush cowards team will make sure their puppets run the show and take all the positions of importance. In every country there are always individuals that will sell their soul for power and fortune, the so called elected officials will care nothing about their fellow citizens.

[Just Me]

2. Correct me if I am wrong but weren't the Sunnis bent towards secularism?

It seems that,...every time "American Pie Politicians" touch the east,...it plants problems,...long-term problems.

Their humility,...always comes too freakin' late. I am so sick of arrogance run amok. I hate the bushes' self-intrigue. When bush Sr. finally proclaims mistakes on his death-bed,...I will NOT be impressed by his lack of courage in life.


I am sick of chicken-shits who wait until they have usurped and sucked the very life out of human hope before finally proclaiming a "stand" for humanity.

[G_j]

3. who really thinks the "elections"

will happen? I don't think so.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Rose Siding]

6. That's how Rumsfeld sees this great gift of democracy

He thought it would be fine if some parts of Iraq were too unstable for an election.

Suppose CA boycotted a US election. Or minority populations in similar numbers. Wouldn't that indicate a serious problem for the nation?

The stakes are preventing a civil war.

Sunni in Iraq are educated and productive citizens, forming a good portion of the business class. It's foolish to blow off their concerns.

[LynnTheDem]

8. Not according to surveys done last year.

Sunnis = 58%

Shia = 40%

And the Shia agree.

Fresh Statistics’ Show Iraq's Sunnis In Majority

http://occupationwatch.org/article.php?id=2784

[Just Me]

7. "Terrorists" are relative.

As defined by the FBI, terrorism is defined as "the unlawful use of force against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population or any segment thereof, in the furtherance of political or social objectives".

The neoCONimperialists fit perfectly into that definition.

Worse, though, is that the neoCONimperialists PLAN for post-Saddam Iraq was selling off the whole country to the highest bidder.

Why anyone, including the neoCONimperialists, could possibly wonder why hell has broke lose in Iraq,...is simply beyond me. Is it stupidity, ignorance, shallowness, greed, foolishness, psychosis? I just cannot say.

[BoogyMan]

9. Relative?

Your commentary would assume that all of the "insurgents" are Iraqi and that the average Iraqi citizen doesn't want the new government. Such assumptions simply don't hold water.

Did anyone actually expect the Sunni's to stay in the game? They are widely despised by the rest of the populace as Baath sympathizers.

[LynnTheDem]

10. His assumption is correct.

Most all the "insurgents" ARE Iraqis.

NO, in FACT, the Sunnis are NOT "widely despised" by the rest of the populace.

Seems someone's been watching way too much Faux Moos.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LynnTheDem]

15. The US Military, for one, dear. The Iraqis themselves for another.

Faux Moos really doesn't make for the best "study" materials. YOU, me dear, are simply WRONG.

Insurgents Are Mostly Iraqis, US Military Says

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0928-21.htm

US, British holding 10,000 detainees-ONLY 353 are "foreigners"

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1273053.htm

Only 2% of Iraqis View the US as Liberators, 97% as Occupiers

http://www.independent-media.tv/item.cfm?fmedia_id=7752&fcategory_desc=Under%20Reported

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2004-04-28-poll-cover_x.htm

Poll: Iraqis want immediate US pullout - 04/29/04

http://www.detnews.com/2004/nation/0404/29/a05-137477.htm

[VegasWolf]

11. Still looking for all those WMDs in Iraq? n/t

[LynnTheDem]

12. LOL!

:D

[VegasWolf]

14. awol spreading democracy/christainity one bomb at a time. n/t

[LynnTheDem]

16. DUers edumacating

ignorant rightwingnuts one moran at a time. :D

[Mr. Sinister]

17. That's what I love about DU

and about lefties in general. Well-researched opinions
rooted in information and a compassionate world-view.
Right-wingers only produce biased froth based on their
twisted vision. YOU ROCK!!

[VegasWolf]

18. Nah, it's just the higher average IQ that liberals possess.n/t

[VegasWolf]

19. awol still he thinks he can pull off these phony elections and his little

puppet government will stay in place and keep giving Halliburton
access to oil and the Iraqis will just sit back. chimp should
try "negotiating" with himself.