NewsMax Wires

Monday, Nov. 22, 2004

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's Electoral Commission on Sunday set national elections for Jan. 30, and a spokesman said ballots would be cast nationwide.

Iraqis will go to the polls to choose a national assembly, which will among other things draft a permanent constitution. The vote is seen as a major step toward building democracy after years of rule by Saddam Hussein.

No Iraqi province will be excluded because the law considers Iraq as one constituency, and therefore it is not legal to exclude any province.

Sunday was the first time a date for national elections was set; the commission was charged with choosing a date before the end of January.

Iraqi voters will choose representatives for a 275-member national assembly, provincial councils and the national council for Kurdistan. Ayar said that 122 political parties out of 195 applications were accepted and registered for the elections.

The commission has asked the United Nations to send international monitors for the elections. Around 35 U.N. experts have already arrived, he said, adding, "we need as many monitors as possible."


Full Story:Newsmax.com (http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/11/21/134330.shtml)


So, tell me again how this campaign is a total failure?

*Chirp* *Chirp* went the crickets because the left has nothing to say now!

Nope... Still no comments from the lefties.

http://gama.sloweb.net/1tao5a_awro-lui%20was%20owned.jpg

Iraqi voters will choose representatives for a 275-member national assembly, provincial councils and the national council for Kurdistan. Ayar said that 122 political parties out of 195 applications were accepted and registered for the elections.

275 representives
provicial councils
National council for Kurdistan

Why is National attached to Kurdistan. Is the Kurd portion of Iraq getting special treatment?

What are provincial councils? Who votes for them? Districts of Iraq?

old reb

If things go according to plan, Iraq will emerge as a democratic state in a region of authoritarian rulers, and the American and other foreign troops can go home.

But the road is littered with potential problems.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040627/news_1n27next.html

So, tell me again how this campaign is a total failure?
The date for the election has been set. There's still no guarantee that it will actually happen, or that it will be a legitimate election. There's also no telling what might happen after the election. It's far too early to judge whether this campaign has been a success or a failure.

I think it all depends on whether the Iraqi people feel it was a free and honest election and whether they are willing to accept the results. They do not want a puppet government of the U.S. which is essentially what we are offering them. If they vote the wrong people into power then we may be kicked out or told to leave and that would make an even bigger mess. I'd love to see what Herr bush would do if the "new" Iraqi government told him to go tohell and leave Iraq.