Iraq election may not be free and fair, must be held

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KAR938843.htm

BAGHDAD, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Iraq's elections next year might not end up being free and fair because of the insurgency but holding them is better than having no poll at all, a senior Iraqi politician said on Sunday.

"In all elections in the world, breaches occur. I don't think that elections in Iraq are going to be 100 percent free and fair," Fouad Massoum, president of Iraq's recently elected National Council, said, adding: "Breaches will occur."

Attempts by guerrilla groups and militias to hamper election preparations, disrupt voting and intimidate people to vote in a certain way or not vote at all could damage the fairness of the elections, Massoum told Reuters in an interview.

"But this is not important if we take into consideration the circumstances we are living in. Even having an election with 60 percent fairness and freedom is better than not having one."

more...Wow. They really are planning on having a US style Democracy in Iraq.

[bemildred]

1. Desperate for any shred of political legitimacy and support, I see. nt

[punpirate]

2. Next, we will hear Allawi...

... bloviating on the primacy of the vote. Count on it.

[Cocoa]

3. 60%, lol

funny for two reasons. First, they're flattering themselves with 60%. The coronation of the U.S.'s chosen leader will be about as legitimate as Saddam's elections. Closer to 0%.

Second, 60% is a laughably low goal. We invaded a country to give them a "60% fair" democracy?

[mikehiggins]

4. Just wondering. Does Iraq have a Supreme Court? eom

[thecrow]

5. They have a National Guard

oh... that's ours.... oops

[Owlet]

6. This virtually guarantees a civil war

Holding the elections in 4 months probably means that only Shiites will vote, as the majority of the Sunni areas are presently "no-go" zones for US and Iraqi troops. There's really no reason for the Kurds to participate, as the Shia have said all along that they don't like (and probably won't honor) the semi-autonomous Kurdish area in the north of the country. The civil war will really get going when the 'elected' Shiite government tries to exercise control over the Sunni and Kurdish areas.

[sofa king]

7. We KNOW they won't be free and fair.

You don't expect a loan shark to give you a fair interest rate, you don't expect a pawn shop to give you full value for your wedding ring, and you don't expect the Republican Party to be interested in accurately tallying the will of the electorate.

A Republican election campaign is the art of reaching a predetermined result in spite of the desires of the majority. Iraq is the bastard child of the Republican Party, so we already know what we are going to see.