Optimism in Iraq

[TastesLikeChicken]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/a...,,7374-1459918,00.html

Voting fever takes hold of a people finally free to choose
From Richard Beeston in Baghdad
There is a palpable sense that the country is entering a new era

FOR decades, voting in Iraq meant taking part in a national exercise of state-enforced adulation, as 99 per cent of the electorate would dutifully turn out to tick the box beside the name Saddam Hussein.

Yesterday the contrast could not have been starker, as the campaign for Sunday?s elections picked up pace and voters were presented with a dizzying selection of dozens of candidates and parties.

Notwithstanding insurgent terror aimed at wrecking the polls, there is finally a palpable sense in Baghdad, and other Iraqi cities, that the country is entering a new era.

At the Babylon Hotel tribal sheikhs in long gowns and Arab headdress gathered to hear politicians extol the virtues of Iyad Allawi, the interim Prime Minister, who was being touted as the only man with the strength and will to solve Iraq?s numerous problems.

Across town Kurdish voters were treated to large slices of chocolate cake, folk dancing and poetry readings praising democracy and reminding them of their duty to their nation.

Elsewhere street urchins were discovering that democracy can pay. They have been hired en masse to put up posters and billboards on every wall space available and probably paid a little extra to tear down the slogans of rival politicians.


...more at the link

It's surprising to see this article come from the TimesOnline. It's fairly dismetrically opposed to the reports they normally have from that almighty reporting team -- the Bad News Bearers.

Maybe the palable change in Iraq will finally spark a palpable change in reporting as well?

 

[Tommunist]

Elsewhere street urchins were discovering that democracy can pay. They have been hired en masse to put up posters and billboards on every wall space available and probably paid a little extra to tear down the slogans of rival politicians.

Am I the only one that finds this language a bit tacky? Street urchins? wtf?


I still stand by this election being a set up and even if it isn't as long as we are as strong of an occupying force as we are now a large part of the Iraqi population will not accept the "elected" or elected leadership as legit.

 

[Rhin0]

I feel for the Iraqi people, I really do. I just hope everything goes well for them. I hope they all stand strong, together on Sunday and all come out and show that "enough is enough". Similar to a take back the streets thing where a community unites and just kicks out the crack heads and gangs. They can't kill them all! I think about their situation and it hurts my heart 🙁 They have a foreign army trying to help them; they can't possibly accept a foreign army with open arms but at the same time they know they need our help more now than ever. It must be tough... and I'm sure there are so many Iraqis that want to help American forces and help Iraqi forces protect and rebuild but they can't because of fear for their life and their family. The insurgents are the absolute scum of the earth. I can just hope that the Iraqis start standing up for themselves so Iraqis can see Iraqis fighting for themselves against the insurgents. Hopefully it would lead to a lot more tips and turn ins on the terror network and insurgent fighters.

They have my best wishes!


BTW- here is my favorite new Jihad quote- ""We have warned you, so don't blame us. You have only yourselves to blame"

WHAT THE H3ll kind of metality is that? That's absurd!

 

[Tommunist]

Originally posted by: Rhin0
I feel for the Iraqi people, I really do. I just hope everything goes well for them. I hope they all stand strong, together on Sunday and all come out and show that "enough is enough". Similar to a take back the streets thing where a community unites and just kicks out the crack heads and gangs. They can't kill them all! I think about their situation and it hurts my heart 🙁 They have a foreign army trying to help them; they can't possibly accept a foreign army with open arms but at the same time they know they need our help more now than ever. It must be tough... and I'm sure there are so many Iraqis that want to help American forces and help Iraqi forces protect and rebuild but they can't because of fear for their life and their family. The insurgents are the absolute scum of the earth. I can just hope that the Iraqis start standing up for themselves so Iraqis can see Iraqis fighting for themselves against the insurgents. Hopefully it would lead to a lot more tips and turn ins on the terror network and insurgent fighters.

They have my best wishes!


BTW- here is my favorite new Jihad quote- ""We have warned you, so don't blame us. You have only yourselves to blame"

WHAT THE H3ll kind of metality is that? That's absurd!

It is my guess that most of the insurgents feel they are fighting an occupying force (which they pretty much are). It's war. There should be a certain amount of respect for both sides - these guys are just fighting for what they think is right and I can't blame them for that.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Iraqi voting starts in the US:

Text

By DEE-ANN DURBIN
Associated Press Writer
Published January 28, 2005, 10:54 AM CST


SOUTHGATE, Mich. -- Joyful tears and frequent applause marked the start of U.S. voting Friday in Iraq's first independent elections in more than 50 years.

Security was tight at the abandoned store-turned-polling place in this Detroit suburb, with guards checking IDs at the parking lot entrance and using metal detectors at the doors. Inside, an oversized, homemade Iraqi flag hung from the ceiling. One poll worker could be seen weeping.

"We feel happy now. This is like America, this voting," said Zoha Yess, 64. "We want fair, good government."

...more at the link

 

[imported_tss4]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken

Maybe the palable change in Iraq will finally spark a palpable change in reporting as well?

Yes, it appears so. When good things happen, they have good news to report on. For about the last two weeks I've been hearing lots of positive stories about the desire of Iraqis to vote, the support for the seculiar party, and optimism over a democratic Iraq.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken
It's surprising to see this article come from the TimesOnline. It's fairly dismetrically opposed to the reports they normally have from that almighty reporting team -- the Bad News Bearers.

Maybe the palable change in Iraq will finally spark a palpable change in reporting as well?

The paper you quote from is NOT the New York Times and "dismetrically" is NOT a word.

Carry on.

 

[umbrella39]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken
Iraqi voting starts in the US:

Text

By DEE-ANN DURBIN
Associated Press Writer
Published January 28, 2005, 10:54 AM CST


SOUTHGATE, Mich. -- Joyful tears and frequent applause marked the start of U.S. voting Friday in Iraq's first independent elections in more than 50 years.

Security was tight at the abandoned store-turned-polling place in this Detroit suburb, with guards checking IDs at the parking lot entrance and using metal detectors at the doors. Inside, an oversized, homemade Iraqi flag hung from the ceiling. One poll worker could be seen weeping.

"We feel happy now. This is like America, this voting," said Zoha Yess, 64. "We want fair, good government."

...more at the link

I live in Dearborn 2 cities over from Southgate TLC and I can assure you, these people are blissful about these elections. I listened to many on WJR (am 950 in Detroit) this morning and you know what they said the most? That their dream is for Iraq to turn into America. Their words, not mine. Can you possibly image Iraq as a whole, Westernizing? I find it hard to accept that a country whose inhabitants think very little of Western culture and Americans in general are going to embrace this "democracy". But time will tell. I will believe in this "democracy" and give it due respect after I have seen it stand on its own two feet for several consecutive years in the absence of the American troops.

 

[DealMonkey]

I'm glad, truly glad, that there are folks here that feel the need to blow sunshine up my ass. 😀

Carry on.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken
It's surprising to see this article come from the TimesOnline. It's fairly dismetrically opposed to the reports they normally have from that almighty reporting team -- the Bad News Bearers.

Maybe the palable change in Iraq will finally spark a palpable change in reporting as well?

The paper you quote from is NOT the New York Times and "dismetrically" is NOT a word.

Carry on.

The TimeOnline is not the NY Times. If had intended that I would have said NY Times. The TimesOnline is a UK site that is known for leaning to the left and articles from there appear in this forum and others quite frequently.

The word was misspelled. It should have been "diametrically."

btw, "palable" is not a word either. 😉 😛

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey
I'm glad, truly glad, that there are folks here that feel the need to blow sunshine up my ass. 😀

Carry on.

It's that head-in-the-sand posture. You're positioning your ass for the occasional ray. 😉

 

[Grunt03]

Good news indeed.

I do however find the entire process very funny.
There are over 200 people running for the position.

 

[Train]

Originally posted by: Grunt03
Good news indeed.

I do however find the entire process very funny.
There are over 200 people running for the position.

heh, ya something like 7,000 candidates for all the offices combined.

Would you prefer a 2 party system with only 2 candidates? heh, I wouldnt wish that on my enemy.

Give it time though, parties will develop and Iraq will be in the same Left-Right battles the US is in.

 

[ReiAyanami]

What matters is will the elected party like us?

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Train

Originally posted by: Grunt03
Good news indeed.

I do however find the entire process very funny.
There are over 200 people running for the position.

heh, ya something like 7,000 candidates for all the offices combined.

Would you prefer a 2 party system with only 2 candidates? heh, I wouldnt wish that on my enemy.

Give it time though, parties will develop and Iraq will be in the same Left-Right battles the US is in.

Depends what kind of electoral system they have. Not every system goes towards two-parties. And espeically when you have strong local identities, it doens't play well with a two-party system.

 

[Train]

Originally posted by: Infohawk

Originally posted by: Train

Originally posted by: Grunt03
Good news indeed.

I do however find the entire process very funny.
There are over 200 people running for the position.

heh, ya something like 7,000 candidates for all the offices combined.

Would you prefer a 2 party system with only 2 candidates? heh, I wouldnt wish that on my enemy.

Give it time though, parties will develop and Iraq will be in the same Left-Right battles the US is in.

Depends what kind of electoral system they have. Not every system goes towards two-parties. And espeically when you have strong local identities, it doens't play well with a two-party system.

your right, I actually see Iraq evolving into a 3 party system, based on the Sunni's, Shiites, and Kurds.

 

[SuperTool]

Good, time for us to leave.

 

[Genx87]

Each election they have after this will make them stronger. This is why the terrorists are trying as hard as they can to stop this.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: Genx87
Each election they have after this will make them stronger. This is why the terrorists are trying as hard as they can to stop this.

Fortunately not all terrorist groups in Iraq feel that way.


Text

BAGHDAD, January 27 (IslamOnline.net) ? Three days ahead of the controversial vote, a leading Iraqi resistance group vowed not to target polling stations or attack innocent Iraqis, saying the real battle is against the occupiers.

In a statement, a copy of which was obtained by IslamOnline.net, the Salah Al-Din Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Front for Resistance, said they would not be dragged into a battle against their own people.

The group pledged to avoid targeting polling stations or being involved in spilling the blood of innocent civilians.

?We are keen not to harm the lives of all Iraqis regardless of their sects and races -- that is an order for the armed wing of the group to follow,? said the two-page statement.

?We should not be dragged into side battles which do not affect the true struggle with the enemy occupiers,? it added.

The announcement runs in the face of threats by Al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi who declared an all-out war on the vote and those who participate in the process.

Al-Zarqawi?s militants on Thursday posted a video on the Internet of their murder of Salem Jaafar al-Kanani, a candidate from the party of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.

At least 30 people were killed Thursday in intensified attacks on Iraqi and US targets as election workers started distributing ballot boxes for the vote.

Sunday's elections are widely expected to be marred by bloodshed and violence after some groups threatened voters with death.

Around 14 million Iraqis are eligible to cast ballots at some 5,700 polling stations to elect a 275-seat National Assembly that will in turn choose a Presidency Council and draft the country?s constitution.

The constitution must then be ratified through a national referendum ? scheduled to take place at the end of 2005.

...more at the link.

I have no problem with groups like this. These guys are obvious concerned about the Iraqis and refuse to target them. I may not like their cause, but at least I can sympathize with them in that they have a level-headed outlook on the situation, as opposed to certain other groups who are merely looking after their own interests and not those of Iraq.

Omar at Iraq The Model expresses his feelings about Zarqawi too, and demonstrates his hypocrisy.

http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/ (scroll down to the Jan 23 comments)

I just want to add a short comment regarding this?thing (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4199363.stm).
Zarqawi claims that the rule of the majority violates the principle that laws must come from a divine source.

Has he forgotten that the opinion of the majority was respected in the early days of Islam? Has he forgotten that the prophet himself used to ask the citizens of the "Madina" for their opinion (and folow it) in more than one ocassion when a critical decision-making was needed?
I'd like also to ask Zarqawi another question: if the majority was to mean the Talibans or the radical Wahabists, would he be against that majority?

Let's ignore the ridiculous content of the tape and the sick ideology of its source and let's move to the motives of releasing this tape at this time.

Frankly speaking, I think there's a good possibility that this tape is either fake or mere show-business because this tactic used to be Saddam's defense method against rumors; whenever there was a rumor about him being sick or injured he would appear the very next day, all the day on TV, radio, newspapers and even toilet papers to prove that he's still alive and in power.

So it could be either Zarqawi himself trying to prove that these (http://www.rogerlsimon.com/mt-...1/the_mesopotamia.php) rumors (thanks Roger, I haven't been watching TV lately) are just rumors or it could be one (or a group) of his aides using his ghost to keep the people living in fear and to cover their loss.

Anyway, if the tape was true, then it isn't going to make any difference, because the people here already know that Zarqawi and his criminals are against the elections and they have realized that those terrorists will try everything to stop the elections from happening.

I mean, the threat didn't appear out of the blue; it was there all the time and despite that threat, the people have made up their mind and expressed their willingness to vote and take the risk.
Hundreds of car-bomb attacks and nearly 2 years of killings haven't stopped the majority of Iraqis from declaring their will to vote or to run for offices. Now is it possible that a stupid tape can do that? I don't think so.

If we agree to live in fear for one day then we're going to live in fear forever.
Today, the terrorists are using the elections as an excuse to murder the "infidels" and they will never run short of other insane excuses in the future, they will find something else; maybe soccer will justify Jihad against the "infidels"!

 

[DealMonkey]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken
I have no problem with groups like this. These guys are obvious concerned about the Iraqis and refuse to target them. I may not like their cause, but at least I can sympathize with them in that they have a level-headed outlook on the situation, as opposed to certain other groups who are merely looking after their own interests and not those of Iraq.

Well it's clear you've gone soft on terrorism. Look TLC, you need to stay on message ("Terror BAD!") and stay frosty. Trust no one and keep your laser handy! Iraq is a dangerous place fraught with much peril -- we can't have you losing your backbone and going liberal on us!

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken
I have no problem with groups like this. These guys are obvious concerned about the Iraqis and refuse to target them. I may not like their cause, but at least I can sympathize with them in that they have a level-headed outlook on the situation, as opposed to certain other groups who are merely looking after their own interests and not those of Iraq.

Well it's clear you've gone soft on terrorism. Look TLC, you need to stay on message ("Terror BAD!") and stay frosty. Trust no one and keep your laser handy! Iraq is a dangerous place fraught with much peril -- we can't have you losing your backbone and going liberal on us!

::shivers::

Yeppers. Your write. I'd hate to be klassuhfried as wun o' dem dar damned libruhls, don't yah no.

Thanks for the reminder.