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[MIMIC]

Iraqis will be able to vote in an unprecedented election, something that hasn't been done in 50 years.

Some facts:

What are Iraqis voting for?
Voters will choose 275 members of a Transitional National Assembly, whose key tasks will be to choose a government and formulate a new constitution by Aug. 15. The body will select a president and two deputies from its ranks to succeed the interim administration appointed by the U.S.-led occupation authority. They will then choose a prime minister, who will hold the most power, including control of the military.

The assembly is to be dissolved and a new parliament elected according to the new constitution by the end of 2005. Elections are also planned for 18 provincial assemblies and for parliament of the autonomous Kurdish region in the north.

Who is standing for election?
As of late December, over 6,000 individuals had registered as candidates for the 275-member national assembly.

Overall, some 196 political parties and 33 coalitions had presented 18,900 candidates to stand for all of the offices at stake -- including local governorates. Candidates must be at least 30 years old. Parties submit lists of candidates. Every third name on the list must be a woman. Former senior officials of the Baathist party, current members of the military and parties associated with a militia are barred from running.

 

[bob_arctor]

Why aren't the insurgents on the ballot? Aren't they technically the "main opposition"?

Thus, in the Dominican Republic in 1966, and periodically thereafter, the United States organized what have been called "demonstration elections" in its client states, defined as those whose primary function is to convince the home population that the intervention is well intentioned, that the poplulace of the invaded and occupied country welcomes the intrusion, and that they are being given a democratic choice.

Hey Iraq, El Salvador called. They want their sham election back!

 

[Drexon]

*Goes to voting place*
*Places vote into ballot*
*Says: I vote for anarchy!*
*Presses button*
*Blows up*

The average life of the suicide bomber, probably not PC.

 

[Shinobi]

I hope Anonymous Candidate #12 wins.

 

[Socreges]

I hope Anonymous Candidate #12 wins.

:rolleyes Anonymous Candidate #12 is a flip-flopper. First he's for totalitarianism, now he's all about democracy. First he's FOR gassing Kurds, now he's against gassing Kurds. We need a strong leader that stays the course. We need Anonymous Candidate #21. Sure, he may have been completely wrong when he suggested that we would welcome the Americans, but he didn't regret what he said! That shows STRENGTH!

 

[RiZ III]

I hope Saddam wins.

No but seriously, wasn't he planning to be on the ticket or something :lol

 

[Instigator]

There are areas where they think only 15% of the people will vote. How can that even be a valid result?

 

[Socreges]

There are areas where they think only 15% of the people will vote. How can that even be a valid result?

"Will every eligible Iraqi have the capacity to vote? No, they won't."

"Is the number, in fact, going to be around 15%? Sure, yeah, it will..."

"Will we still call this election 'democratic'?"

"You betcha."

 

[cubanb]

im voting for gore

 

[BigJonsson]

And soon after the Iraqi civil war will start and Iran will take over Iraq

 

[AssMan]

Okay GAFFERS. Time to predict the voting turnouts.


I predict 35%. What do you guys predict?

 

[Shinobi]

:rolleyes Anonymous Candidate #12 is a flip-flopper. First he's for totalitarianism, now he's all about democracy. First he's FOR gassing Kurds, now he's against gassing Kurds. We need a strong leader that stays the course. We need Anonymous Candidate #21. Sure, he may have been completely wrong when he suggested that we would welcome the Americans, but he didn't regret what he said! That shows STRENGTH!

:lol :lol :lol

I won't bother guessing the vote turnout...who knows what they'll base such a figure on.

 

[MIMIC]

The inevitable:

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Against a backdrop of bloody violence that killed two Americans at the U.S. Embassy, Iraqis cast their ballots Sunday in the war-torn nation's first free election in more than 50 years.

Less than 90 minutes after voting had begun at 7 a.m. local time (11 p.m. ET Saturday), Reuters reported that a suicide car bomber near a West Baghdad polling place blew up his vehicle, killing a policeman. Police sources told Reuters that two Iraqi soldiers and two civilians were also wounded in the attack outside the Zahraa school, which is being used as a voting center.

A few moments later, Reuters said multiple blasts were being reported in the center of the city and the Associated Press said mortar fire also could be heard.

MSNBC-TV's David Shuster, reporting from Baghdad, confirmed that reporters had heard an explosion but had no other immediate details. "In addition to what sounded like an explosion, there was also the rattle of gunfire," Shuster said.

As the voting got under way, poll workers checked identifications. Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawer was one of the first to vote at election headquarters in the heavily fortified Green Zone, calling the election his country’s first step “toward joining the free world.”

While workers watched, he marked two ballots and then dropped them into boxes. A poll worker handed him an Iraqi flag as he left.

“I’m very proud and happy this morning,” al-Yawher told reporters. “I congratulate all the Iraqi people and call them to vote for Iraq.”

MSNBC

 

[Greenpanda]

Okay GAFFERS. Time to predict the voting turnouts.


I predict 35%. What do you guys predict?

61%

 

[alejob]

Okay GAFFERS. Time to predict the voting turnouts.


I predict 35%. What do you guys predict?

How about predicting how many voting polls will get bombed? I say 50%.

But seriously, if I were an Iraqi I would be nowhere near them.

 

[belgurdo]

Quoth Wario64: Bomb bomb

 

[Dan]

14.2 million registered voters...

It'd sure be nice to know how many Iraqis are eligible to vote and didn't register. I doubt anyone even knows though...

 

[Mandark]

Dan: Going by the CIA factbook, it looks like 80, 90 some percent of eligible Iraqis are registered.

I say the Sistani-brokered united Shiite slate gets a plurality, forms a coalition with Allawi's party. Moqtada Sadr will make several contradictory proclamations in the weeks afterwards.

Violence won't be as bad as people are worried about, but attacks will continue after the elections much like they did after the "transfer of sovereignty."

The US will stick around for a while, until the ruling Shiite politicians think the Iraqi military is stable enough to prevent a Baathist resurgence. Some people in the US will feel the job is done, increasing political pressure to bring the boys home, but having an elected Iraqi government request they stay will balance that out.

The Kurdish area (which will include Kirkuk) will be autonomous enough so that the Kurds don't make a stink, but not so much that Turkey goes nuts.

Sunni Muslims will be underrepresented in the government, as a result of the party roll style voting, as opposed to regional representatives.

The US military will try to set up permanent military bases within Iraq. The Iraqi politicians who allow this will also be the ones who oversee the withdrawal of the bulk of American troops, so they'll have some cover.

Remember that this election isn't just for a national legislature, but essentially for a constitutional convention. The decisions made here could deeply affect the form and role of Iraqi government for a few centuries.

 

[Hitokage]

The decisions made here could deeply affect the form and role of Iraqi government for a few centuries.

Or a few years, if things go to pot.

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

Thus, in the Dominican Republic in 1966, and periodically thereafter, the United States organized what have been called "demonstration elections" in its client states, defined as those whose primary function is to convince the home population that the intervention is well intentioned, that the poplulace of the invaded and occupied country welcomes the intrusion, and that they are being given a democratic choice.

and since the people in the dominican republic werent able to vote but for the person the got crammed down their throats, they got a defacto dictator for 12 years. probably what's gonna happen in iraq.

Violence won't be as bad as people are worried about, but attacks will continue after the elections much like they did after the "transfer of sovereignty."

violence got worse after the "transfer of power"

 

[Mandark]

Yeah, I didn't say that so I could avoid the "You're rooting for democracy to fail!" accusations.

Fun Fact

How do we know that Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani is really a moderate?

Because he says oral sex is okay as long as no fluids get in the mouth. This is the kind of tough compromise that Iraq needs to bridge ethnic and religious barriers.

edit: Thank you solrac, I know that.

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

Yeah, I didn't say that so I could avoid the "You're rooting for democracy to fail!" accusations.

Fun Fact

How do we know that Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani is really a moderate?

Because he says oral sex is okay as long as no fluids get in the mouth. This is the kind of tough compromise that Iraq needs to bridge ethnic and religious barriers.

edit: Thank you solrac, I know that.

sarcasm aside, it seeems to me that every time we have had one of these milestones (saddam caught, fallujah part 1, moqtada al-sadr followed, transfer of power on june 28th, 600 soldiers dead in six months more or less) it seems like things get worse.

and maybe this sistani guy is a moderate by middle eastern standerds and not western standards. but at least he hasnt called for armed struggle as far as i know. he sorta has a lukewarm relationship with the americans so we have no choice but to trust him. right?

 

[Instigator]

Alright, who else has a hard time believing that turnout is actually 72%?

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

Alright, who else has a hard time believing that turnout is actually 72%?

Not, I. First of all it's been quiet as a titmouse out here, second the US military has had a real show of force and has been pushing the elections.

Now then the kicker is 72% of the areas where they could secure. I don't think they mean 72% of the population. But, as you well know those kinds of details aren't really necessary.

 

[Kon Tiki]

Can they vote in another dictator?

 

[Outlaw Pro Mod]

Love the pessimism. Who thinks that if there were reports of it being a total disaster, this forum would have multiple threads of joy and laughter?

 

[Drozmight]

72% of what percentage of the population that registered?

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

Love the pessimism. Who thinks that if there were reports of it being a total disaster, this forum would have multiple threads of joy and laughter?

Me, but since I'm out here not my views have changed a bit. I have no desire to get my ass shot off to prove MIMIC right. That being said let's not fool ourselves the fact that they can set up some clown court to rule the country is a far cry for stability. The primary need for the Iraqi is security to be in place. There is no way this independent Iraq is going to get off the ground if the security forces can't secure the people WITHOUT us assistance and keep their elected officals alive.

But, to the chagrin of some people I think Bush can pretty much chalk today up as a win. The fact that there was not outright catstrophe is a good thing for the Bush Administration, the US troops, and the Iraqi people.

 

[Che]

Hey Iraq, El Salvador called. They want their sham election back!

:lol

So since "democracy" will be "restored" will the occupation forces leave Iraq? The only thing that surprises me concerning this election is that the official thread was not started by Firest0rm.

 

[Shinobi]

Love the pessimism.

Three years of fuck ups have given me no reason to show anything but...

 

[Tarazet]

Going by the CIA factbook, it looks like 80, 90 some percent of eligible Iraqis are registered.

Alright, who else has a hard time believing that turnout is actually 72%?

Holy... fuck. This is either a revelatory moment, or a HUGE lie.

 

[Ghost]

Im betting on write in candidate George W. Bush to win by 700,000 votes when all the other candidates ballots mysteriously vanish.

 

[Firest0rm]

Only reason this thread wasn't started by me is because I didn't want to bother with any of you this whole weekend. This is going to be my only post. It's the greastest weekend for Iraqi's, after 30 years we finally see this day.

 

[Shinobi]

Only reason this thread wasn't started by me is because I didn't want to bother with any of you this whole weekend.

You say that as if we're supposed to be saddened. :lol

This could well be the greatest day in Iraq history, but how about at least waiting five years before making such grandiose claims? I'm looking at a full generation myself.

 

[MIMIC]

Wow...the election process--for all intents and purposes--was pretty successful, security wise.

Against violent backdrop, Iraqis turn out to vote

Attacks on polling stations kill 44, including 9 suicide bombers

BAGHDAD, Iraq - More Iraqis than anticipated defied threats of violence and calls for a boycott to cast ballots Sunday in Iraq's first free election in a half-century. The violence continued unabated, however, with insurgent attacks on polling stations killing at least 44 people, including nine suicide bombers.

Optimism about the vote was tempered by low turnout among Sunni Muslims, which could undermine the new government and worsen tensions among the country’s ethnic, religious and cultural groups.

President George Bush, speaking on Sunday from the White House, said the Iraqis had made the election "a resounding success."

"Iraqis have shown their commitment to democracy," he said, and had "firmly rejected the anti-democratic ideology of the terrorists."

Women in black abayas whispered prayers at the sound of a nearby explosion as they waited to vote at one Baghdad polling station. But the mood elsewhere was triumphant, with long lines in many places in the city: Civilians and policemen danced with joy outside one polling site, and some streets were packed with voters walking shoulder-to-shoulder toward polling centers.

“This is democracy,” said Karfia Abbasi, holding up a thumb stained with purple ink to prove she had voted.

Shiite clerics encouraged their followers to vote, and Shiite Muslims, estimated at 60 percent of Iraq’s 26 million people, turned out in large numbers.

 

[olimario]

It's "all intents and purposes", not "all intensive purposes"

 

[MIMIC]

It's "all intents and purposes", not "all intensive purposes"

I've always had an inkling that how I thought of it was wrong...which is why I've never said it in real life.

 

[CaptainABAB]

For comparison purposes, the 2004 US presidential election had a 60.7% turnout. And that was the highest since 1968.

Also, the turn-out for the 18-29 group was just 51% - and we didn't have suicide bombers to worry about.


Iraqi turnout estimates have been in the range of 60-72% Apparently, they don't have the same cynicism you guys do.

 

[Deleted member 1159]

Wow, something to be a little proud of in Iraq.

 

[MIMIC]

Just heard on MSNBC: (IECI) 57% of registered Iraqis voted in the election.

 

[BigJonsson]

How many Iraqi's abroad voted?

 

[Manabanana]

Just heard on MSNBC: (IECI) 57% of registered Iraqis voted in the election.

So that's about 30% of the population, right? Where is this 75% number coming from?

 

[MIMIC]

So that's about 30% of the population, right? Where is this 75% number coming from?

The American propaganda machine.

 

[Macam]

Yeah, NYT is also reporting between 55 and 60 percent of registered voters, so 57 percent is probably about right. There's a pretty good, if overly optimistic article, here: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/30/i...&en=562b2d104653f499&ei=5094&partner=homepage

When's all said and done, that's pretty good. If I'm not mistaken, that's higher than most US elections. I'll hand today to Bush, but my bigger concern is what comes after this and not the election itself. Afghanistan, despite having elections, is still largely run by warlords outside of Kabul; opium production was at record levels this past year. The Taliban may be gone, and elections may be held, but security and stability still aren't where they should be. Iraq is teetering the same way, with a far more precarious situation given the ethnic tensions and make up of the country. What Bush needs now is to really push for continued security, international cooperation in stabilizing the country, and, provided he can even get that far, begin to make some plans to draw down American forces numbers to ease domestic and Iraqi tensions.

Somehow I think that's wishful thinking on my part however. When he can disappoint, Bush usually does.

 

[AssMan]

LMAO^^. That Conservative who wrote that book "How to talk to a liberal" said 78%. That bitch-ho got PWNED.

 

[MIMIC]

LMAO^^. That Conservative who wrote that book "How to talk to a liberal" said 78%. That bitch-ho got PWNED.

Mann Coulter?

 

[Tarazet]

57% sounds more realistic, but still absolutely great. I can't believe so many Iraqis voted.

Rather unrelated, but in other Middle Eastern news, the Tour of Qatar is coming up... it's organized by the ASO, the same organization that does the Tour de France, and it always draws the big European teams as well as the Iranian and Iraqi national teams, and this year, the new Al-Jazeera Cycling Team will be on the starting line...

It starts tomorrow and runs through Feb. 4th... there's no TV coverage, unfortunately, but Cyclingnews.com and Velonews.com will have reports from every stage.

 

[iapetus]

Good turnout, comparatively low levels of violence and some sort of sane result are all, of course, good things. Congratulations to everyone involved in making that happen.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

REUNION

Can they vote in another dictator?

Nope. They can vote in a group of people to create a constitution that would put in another dictator, though.

 

[Socreges]

The lack of any large-scale attacks really shows, I think, that this insurgency isn't capable of a whole lot. Mostly suicide bombings with about two people dead in each one. It could have been a lot worse.

I'm amazed at how high the voter turnout was. Even a little suspicious. But until I hear accounts of otherwise, I'll buy it. That's great.

And btw, if any of you have noticed just how low the percentage of people that are eligible is, the median age in Iraq is apparently 19.2 years. Compared to, for example, Canada's, which is 38.2 years....