Iraqi voting

[dontpanic]

Today was the Iraqi vote, and no matter what I feel about how it all came about and what I feel about the politics of the war, this vote is a good thing. Right now I am watching news footage of the people turning out to vote. These men and women walked through absolute tension - threats of shootings and bombs - to choose a future for themselves.

Thinking of this just pisses me off that we Americans can't get fifty fucking percent of our eligible voters to drive our cars through our paved streets lined with businesses and shops instead of barbed wire and gun-weilding soldiers and make our way the one mile or so to a polling place and devote five fucking minutes of our lives (which we would have likely wasted anyway) to engage in the act of voting that so many people all over the world have fought and died for.

It makes me sad.

[Julia]

Maybe the Americans should install gun turrets near polling places to give it a sense of adventure.

[dontpanic]

It's kinda pathetic, Julia, but that's not a bad idea. It seems that, for many Americans, it is a chore to move one's ass unless someone tells us we can't. I bet that as soon as someone took away the right to vote, there'd be a line of people ready to fight for the right to do so.

[Julia]

Judging from how Americans behave if a store opens a few minutes late, I'm sure of it. :) We Russians just drink for everything.

[dontpanic]

Sounds like me. Actually, I have a little Russian in me...or I did at a party a few years back. :)

Alright, alright...it was just a little spit-swapping. I can't help it, though. When drunk, forgein guys spend the evening showing me magic card tricks....I melt.

[staticxess]

It's kinda pathetic, Julia, but that's not a bad idea. It seems that, for many Americans, it is a chore to move one's ass unless someone tells us we can't. I bet that as soon as someone took away the right to vote, there'd be a line of people ready to fight for the right to do so.

I'm sure there would be.
At least there are huge turnouts &
most Iraqi's seem happy to get a chance to vote.
I guess some good has come out of the madness.
Give them a few years tho & I'm sure they'll be
just like americans whining & complaining about things
& not being proactive like a democracy should allow.

[Jut]

the problem with this vote is that although the turnout is high in kurdish and shi'te areas where the insurgency is little to none, the turnout in sunni areas is so damn low because of bombing etc..... that many will call into question the fairness of the election.
As it is there are no internation election monitors......
also i don't entirly trust the turnout figures that the US have claimed.....afterall it's not like they havn't lied before to to suit their own agenda.

[staticxess]

the problem with this vote is that although the turnout is high in kurdish and shi'te areas where the insurgency is little to none, the turnout in sunni areas is so damn low because of bombing etc..... that many will call into question the fairness of the election.
As it is there are no internation election monitors......
also i don't entirly trust the turnout figures that the US have claimed.....afterall it's not like they havn't lied before to to suit their own agenda.

No kidding.
What a "democratic" process on both sides.

[dontpanic]

also i don't entirly trust the turnout figures that the US have claimed.....afterall it's not like they havn't lied before to to suit their own agenda.

You know, you have a lot of nerve. What gives you the right to cloud the issue with something as inconsequential as the truth?

You should be ashamed of yourself. :(

[Jut]

lol DP.........here's my little prediction.....the US will claim the elections a total sucess and the iraqi's a free people.....yet they will still have the same number of troops there as they did 2 years ago.
The kurds, sunnis and shi'tes will not be happy bunnys with the result and we will have more bloodshed within the next few months . meanwhile the truth of the election will leak out as people in high places are forced to confess they made a fuck up......some kind of investigation will take place that will be a complete whitewash and not actually address the issue at hand.
in otherwards the same shit that has been happening since 9/11.
meanwhile iran will hit the spotlight as bush goes after them next.

[dontpanic]

Well now, Jut. That's where you are wrong. Bush has too many financial ties to go after Iran next. No, I'm thinking that attention will focus on some other nation that has instigated Bush's ire. Maybe Pakistan?

[Jut]

here's something i found on the BBC website that i found quite interesting
Two of the most popular satellite channels in the Arab World, al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya, are offering up-to-the-minute reporting on voting inside outside Iraq.
Al-Arabiya, which has taken a more favourable view of the political process, showed men and women describing the day as an historic moment and a big party for the entire country - a common expression used by many of those interviewed.
Al-Jazeera has been banned by the interim Iraqi government, which accuses the network of bias in favour of the insurgency.
make of that what you will but banning a popular news agency in the middle east because they might not report exactly what you want them to absolutly stinks. so much for free press.

also
Of 150,000 UK residents eligible to vote, 30,961 registered
the only reliable figure so far......20% turnout from UK iraqis...
the crutial factor is the percentage of sunni's that vote......if it's too low then i wouldnt be supprised if we see a civil war over there.

I'm still of the opinion that the whole thing is a farce and as free as the bush 2000 election.

[Jut]

Well now, Jut. That's where you are wrong. Bush has too many financial ties to go after Iran next. No, I'm thinking that attention will focus on some other nation that has instigated Bush's ire. Maybe Pakistan?
nah i don't think it will be them.......remember they have been bowing to his every command in the war against terror.........although i'm still at a loss as to what the differences between their govt and saddam's were

[dontpanic]

Bowing to his every command aside from that little issue of Bin Laden's head on a platter.

Yeah, through the job I do I know quite a few Iraqis that probably never registered or voted. I think that in all of the US there were only 6 cities with voting locations. The closest to Oklahoma City was Nashville, Tennessee.

[guybgdon381]

It's kinda pathetic, Julia, but that's not a bad idea. It seems that, for many Americans, it is a chore to move one's ass unless someone tells us we can't. I bet that as soon as someone took away the right to vote, there'd be a line of people ready to fight for the right to do so.
I am ashamed of our voter turn out.
Of course, look at the ass holes we get to vote for.
We are pretty spoiled and think the Iraqi vote should make us all ashamed.
Don

[Shiola]

There is a novelty factor involved. Being able to vote for your government must be fun the first time after the past leader commited genocide and other stuff. You watch the Iraqi election in 2050 - they'll have a couple of nondescript 'leaders' who don't differ too much, talk crap, have alterior motives for their corporate buddies and won't really stick up for the poor....just the kind of democracy we all enjoy here in the West.