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Originally posted by Geezer:
Iraq is supposed to hold elections for a 275 member Transitional National Assembly in late January. Registration and voting procedures, and the method of selecting a president and prime minister, are outlined in the BBC Q&A article at this link.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3971635.stm

This assembly is to develop a national constitution in time for the election of a permanent government by December 2005.

The Coalition and Allawi government of course support this election. The U.N. supports it. They actually wanted it sooner. The European Union supports it. The Iraqi Shiites support it. The Iraqi Kurds support it. Bush is on record as accepting the result even if it is a religious government.

The only people who seem to oppose it are the Sunnis, who threaten a boycott, and the insurgents, who have recently been destroying voter registration rolls and ballots, and threatening election workers.

So, is the election a good thing, which may be the first step in allowing the Iraqi people self-determination, or is it all right to allow the minority to prevent it?


"Keep the Shiny side up"

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156 Parties to Run in Iraq Elections
Updated: Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004 - 8:54 AM

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraq's Independent Electoral Commission said Tuesday that 156 political parties have been approved to run candidates in the Jan. 30 general election.

They included the Iraqi National Accord party led by Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and the new party of President Ghazi al-Yawer, called the Iraqis' Party, commission spokesman Farid Ayar said in a statement.

Ayar said 212 parties applied for certification but 56 were rejected for failing to meet criteria.

Also among those approved was the Iraqi Islamic Party, a Sunni group that had threatened to boycott the election to protest the U.S.-led offensive against Fallujah. The party later decided to participate.


(Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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Originally posted by Geezer:

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156 Parties to Run in Iraq Elections
Updated: Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004 - 8:54 AM

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraq's Independent Electoral Commission said Tuesday that 156 political parties have been approved to run candidates in the Jan. 30 general election.

They included the Iraqi National Accord party led by Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and the new party of President Ghazi al-Yawer, called the Iraqis' Party, commission spokesman Farid Ayar said in a statement.

Ayar said 212 parties applied for certification but 56 were rejected for failing to meet criteria.

Also among those approved was the Iraqi Islamic Party, a Sunni group that had threatened to boycott the election to protest the U.S.-led offensive against Fallujah. The party later decided to participate.


(Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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Looks like at least some of the Sunnis are willing to play. Maybe the Arab governments participating in the conference in Egypt can do some jawboning and get some of the other Sunni factions to give it a try. If not, they'll really be out in the cold.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Originally posted by SignyM:

ConorFlynn- The insurgents are not coming from Iran. Iran is mainly Shiite, and has close ties to Sistani. Judging by the apparent popularity of Sistani's group, Iran would have everything to gain and nothing to lose from a successful election. The insurgents are prolly mostly Sunnis, who see their political dominance coming to a screeching halt, with some help from foreigners.

If Sistani wins, I suspect that his group will work very, very hard to remove USA troops, and will prolly forge close (but unofficial/ under the radar) ties with Iran.

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Title: Special Report: The Iran Connection
Author(s): Edward T. Pound with Jennifer Jack
Citation: November 22, 2004 p 34-38, 40-44, 46, 48
Section: Special Report , The Iran Connection
Subjects: IRAN; IRAQ; INTELLIGENCE SERVICES; MILITARY INTELLIGENCE; FOREIGN POLICY, US; MIDDLE EAST; VIOLENCE; TERRORISM; INTERNATIONAL SECURITY; CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS; WEAPONS
Word Count: 6119

Abstract: U.S. intelligence services are reporting acts by factions of the government of Iran that are meant to drive coalition forces out of Iraq and destabilize the Middle East. Those acts include setting up intelligence networks in Shiite cities in Iraq, planning attacks against American targets, supplying funding, weapons, training, and safe havens to Iraqi insurgents, supporting Ansar al-Islam and Sadr's Mahdi militia, and placing bounties on American soldiers.

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Originally posted by Geezer:
Since the main brief of the folks elected in January will be to come up with a new constitution, the first clue as to which way things go may be how much of an Islamic or secular slant they include in it. Everyone talks about Sunni vs. Shi'a vs. Kurd, but I wonder if religious vs. secular is going to be more of an issue? Iran, or course, would like another Islamic Republic. The U.S. will be pushing for a more open, inclusive society.

Kind of funny, when you think about it. The Republican Administration, elected on the back of the Christian Fundamentalists, trying to establish a secular democracy in Iraq. Maybe we should arrange to invade ourselves, and then kick out our own homegrown Ayatollahs.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Originally posted by xenocide:
As much as I opposed this war... as much as I hate this administration and the neo-cons writing its policy and philosophy, today I have to take my hat off, to the president and the troop.

Democracy isn't perfect by any means, but everyhing else is so much worse.

This election is a beautiful thing.

I hope it serves to unite Iraq against the forces seeking to restore tyranny.

I hope this election unites them though ours has divided us.

I hope that their constitutional congress is wise and just, tolerant and brilliant.

I hope they can tie together their disparate Republic.

Let them be a light on the hill in a dark world.
Maybe they can remind us all what democracy is about.

Thus ends the spurt of optimism.

-Eli

(Bitter signature edited out for the occasion, cause sometimes it can matter)

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Originally posted by xenocide:
As much as I opposed this war... as much as I hate this administration and the neo-cons writing its policy and philosophy, today I have to take my hat off, to the president and the troop.

Democracy isn't perfect by any means, but everyhing else is so much worse.

This election is a beautiful thing.

I hope it serves to unite Iraq against the forces seeking to restore tyranny.

I hope this election unites them though ours has divided us.

I hope that their constitutional congress is wise and just, tolerant and brilliant.

I hope they can tie together their disparate Republic.

Let them be a light on the hill in a dark world.
Maybe they can remind us all what democracy is about.

Thus ends the spurt of optimism.

-Eli

(Bitter signature edited out for the occasion, cause sometimes it can matter)

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