Related: Occupation Iraq: AmeriKan Arrogance
"Iraqi elections avoid violence but complaints loom
BAGHDAD (AP) -- Passing through razor-wire cordons and police checkpoints, Iraqi voters Saturday took another step in the nation's quest for stability in provincial elections that were carried off without major violence but tarnished by claims of flaws and threats of challenges.
Even before a single ballot was counted, Iraqi officials were basking in the successes -- watching millions of voters wave the purple-tinted fingers that have become symbols of the country's hopes for a workable democracy. But election observers and others were examining a growing list of complaints, including claims that hundreds of people -- perhaps more -- were wrongly omitted from voting lists in areas across Iraq....
It was unclear whether the alleged problems were isolated or could cast doubts on the entire election.... But a U.N. election observer, Said Arikat, described the election in mostly positive terms....
The voting began under a security net that appeared even more extensive than Iraq's last elections in 2005. Voters passed through several choke points and then individually searched --- men in the open by police and women in tents by teams that included female teachers and civil workers.
I'm so sick of that damn "female suicider" lie: See Occupation Iraq: Israel's IEDs and related links, readers, for WHO is RESPONSIBLE for the violence -- and keep that in mind as you read the Zionist War Daily's accounts!!
In some parts of Baghdad, checkpoints were spaced 30 yards apart and Iraqi security forces, including special forces in combat gear, conducted foot patrols. U.S. soldiers were also out in force, but remained well away from polling centers. The U.S. military assisted in security preparations for the elections, but said troops had a backseat role in the election day operations.....
Oh, they said that, did they?
"The US military is taking a sideline role in direct security for the elections, but plan to send heavy troop deployments into the streets during the voting"
So WHAT is with the LYING?
I mean, either the MILITARY or the PRESS is LYING!!!!
"Secular parties appear to gain clout in Iraqi election; Biggest Shi'ite faction trailing in projections" by Brian Murphy, Associated Press | February 2, 2009
BAGHDAD - The biggest Shi'ite party in Iraq once appeared to hold all the political sway: control of the heartland, the backing of influential clerics, and a foot in the government with ambitions to take full control.
But the days of wide-open horizons could be soon ending for the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, replaced by important shifts that could be welcomed in Washington and scorned in Tehran.
And CUI BONO, eh?
The signs began to take shape yesterday with hints of the voter mood from Saturday's provincial elections. The broad message - built on Iraqi media projections and postelection interviews - was that the eventual results would punish religious-leaning factions such as the Supreme Council that are blamed for stoking sectarian violence, and reward secular parties seen capable of holding Iraq's relative calm.
RIGGED!
The outcome of the provincial races will not directly affect Iraq's national policies or its balance between Washington's global power and Iran's regional muscle. But Shi'ite political trends are critically important in Iraq, where majority Shi'ites now rule after the fall of Saddam Hussein's Sunni-dominated regime.
See Occupation Iraq: Israel's IEDs and related links, readers, for WHO is RESPONSIBLE for the violence -- and keep that in mind as you read the Zionist War Daily's accounts!!
"There is a backlash from Iraqis against sectarian and religious politics," said Mustafa al-Ani, an Iraqi political analyst based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Although official results from the provincial elections are probably still days away, the early outlines are humbling for the Supreme Council. The group had been considered a linchpin in Iraqi politics, as a junior partner in the government that had near seamless political control in the Shi'ite south.
Some forecasts point to widespread losses for the party across the main Shi'ite provinces. They could include stumbles in the key city of Basra and the spiritual center of Najaf - hailed as the future capital in the Supreme Council's dreams for an autonomous Shi'ite enclave.
The big election winners appear to be allies of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, according to projections and interviews with political figures who spoke on condition of anonymity because official results are not posted.
Oh, NOW I KNOW it is RIGGED!!!!!
It's a vivid lesson in Iraq's fluid politics. A year ago, Maliki looked to be sinking. Shi'ite militiamen ruled cities such as Basra and parts of Baghdad and rockets were pouring into the protected Green Zone, which includes the US Embassy and Iraq's parliament.
Maliki - with apparent little advance coordination with the US military - struck back. An offensive broke the militia control in Basra and elsewhere in the south. His reputation turned around. And many voters appeared happy to reward his political backers in the elections for seats on provincial councils, which have authority over local business contracts, jobs, and local security forces.
"Al-Maliki ended the militiamen's reign of terror," said Faisal Hamadi, 58, after voting in Basra. "For this he deserves our vote."
I'm tired of the misrepresentations, half-truths, and outright lies of the MSM, folks! Iran sponsored a peace agreement down there and the MSM coverage pulled back after about two days when Maliki's forces bogged down (they were supposed to be featured as doing things on their own at the time). I'm not going to provide tons more links, because I'm sick of doing that, too. Fucking MSM says one thing one day, then lies about it the next. I'm tired of playing this fooley shit!!!!!!
The Supreme Council, meanwhile, appeared to stagger under the weight of negative baggage. It was accused of failing to deliver improvements to public services in the south. Also, its deep ties to Iran began to rub against Iraqis' nationalist sentiments.
Now WAIT A MINUTE!!! The SHI'ITE IRAQIS with NATIONALIST SENTIMENTS?
So when our lying-fuck government and military say Iran is meddling inside Iraq, you now now it is BULLSHIT!! Either THEY ARE NOT FIGHTING and have GOTTTEN ALONG or the Arab/Persian divide also accounts for something.
People forget it was the SHI'ITES that STAYED with Saddam while the KURDS fought with IRAN in the Iran-Iraq War. That's why Kurds got the gas.
The Supreme Council's leader, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, spent decades in Iran during Hussein's rule and was allowed an office-villa in downtown Tehran. After Hussein's fall, the Supreme Council was Iran's main political conduit into Iraq even though the group also developed ties with Washington.
Doesn't the DUPLICITY and the LYING get to you after a while?
Iran now could face limits on its influence in the south with the Supreme Council forced into a coalition or second-tier status - and also confront resistance from a stronger Maliki government seeking to curb Tehran's inroads.
A Supreme Council lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, acknowledged the election mood was against them. "We controlled most provinces in the south, so we were blamed for whatever went wrong there," he said....
Nationwide turnout in the election was 51 percent, said Faraj al-Haidari, chairman of the election commission. The figure fell short of some optimistic predictions, but was overshadowed by a bigger achievement: no serious violence during the voting....
Well, when USrael and GOVERNMENT DEATH SQUADS account for most of the violence, that's understandable, isn't it?
And THAT TURNOUT SUCKED!!
We DID bring AmeriKan "Democracy" to Iraq after all!!!!
--more--"And as EACH DAY PASSES, the SMELLIER it gets!
"Iraqi military imposes vehicle ban in tense province of Anbar; Some cry foul as crisis brews over elections" by Kim Gamel, Associated Press | February 3, 2009
BAGHDAD - Iraq's military clamped a vehicle ban yesterday on the Sunni-dominated province of Anbar after tribal sheiks sent gunmen into the streets saying Sunni rivals linked to the Shi'ite-led government stole votes in last weekend's elections.
The brewing crisis threatens to trigger new violence in Anbar, the vast, mostly desert territory that had been center-stage in the Sunni insurgency until tribes there turned against Al Qaeda in Iraq two years ago.
I guess we won't be leaving after all, 'eh, Amurkn?
And please don't tell me you still believe in "Al-CIA-Duh."
Anbar was one of 14 of the country's 18 provinces in which Iraqis chose members of ruling councils, which in turn select governors. Saturday's elections took place without major violence and were hailed by President Obama as a major achievement on the country's path to stability after nearly six years of war.
But US officials had said before the balloting that the ultimate test of the election was whether the Iraqi public perceived the outcome as fair. Although there were allegations of election irregularities in many provinces, the complaints seemed more serious in Anbar, an area where most families own guns and where tribes maintain their own armed forces.
Tribal groups, known as Awakening Councils, had hoped to win power in Anbar, believing they were entitled because of their contribution to routing Al Qaeda. Election officials have not released official figures from the balloting. Nevertheless, the Iraqi Islamic Party, a Sunni group that is part of the national government, said unofficial tallies showed it would retain control of the province.
The sheiks cried foul. "The preliminary results were indicating that the Awakening was ahead. But then a strange thing happened after the polls closed. There was a jump in favor of the Islamic Party," said Sheik Ahmed Abu Risha, leader of the tribal alliance.
Sounds familiar: Stolen Elections: 2004
Abu Risha said the Awakening Councils' own surveys at polling stations showed the Islamic Party was trailing. Salim Abdullah, a lawmaker from the Iraqi Islamic Party, dismissed the charges. "These charges are made by political groups who did not fare as well as they had hoped. They are a form of pressure designed to change the real results of the vote," he said.
So ONE ARTICLE says the Iraqis rejected religious groups in favor of secularists, and now we are told the EXACT OPPOSITE -- depending, of course, on WHOM the U.S. ALLY in the region is!!!
OH, STINK!!!!!!!!
With tempers flaring, Iraqi commander Major General Murdhi Mishhin ordered all vehicles off the streets and roads of the province from 10 p.m. yesterday until dawn today. The chairman of the election commission, Faraj al-Haidari, said all formal complaints would be investigated. But he appeared to play down the allegations.
"Accusations are a normal process in Iraqi politics," Haidari said. "We look into all complaints in the same manner - not only in Anbar province. There were complaints in most provinces."
Well, at least since 2003, right?
Anbar sheiks had complained that the Islamic Party, which dominated the previous council, had failed to improve public services in Anbar, where towns and cities were once battlegrounds between US forces and Sunni insurgents.
"We will make from Anbar a graveyard for the Islamic Party and its allies, as well those who committed fraud," Sheik Hameed al-Haishe said. "We will not leave Anbar again to those criminals."
Sheik Ali Hatem Suleiman, a leader of Anbar's biggest tribe, warned of a "catastrophe."
"We are afraid of tribal sedition in the province," he added.
Although final results have not been released, preliminary surveys in the Iraqi media indicate that voters snubbed religious parties widely blamed for the sectarian slaughter that nearly plunged the country into full-scale civil war.
EXCEPT for the U.S-BACKED ONES -- like the government and IIP!!!
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's party appeared to be the big winner because of public support for his crackdown last year on Shi'ite militias. However, a major Shi'ite religious party, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, insisted yesterday that it had finished first or second in most provincial contests. The party provided no figures to back up its claim.
The STENCH is UNBEARABLE, gag, cough, wheeze!
And SINCE WHEN did anyone need PROOF, MSM?
Maliki had urged voters to go to the polls in large numbers, expressing hope for a turnout of 70 percent or 80 percent. However, the election commission said nationwide turnout was 51 percent, well below the figures in two national elections in 2005.
That's a VOTE of NO CONFIDENCE, isn't it?
Many Iraqis blamed the lower figure on a vehicle ban which made it difficult for people to reach their polling stations. Others complained that they didn't know where to vote and that their names were left off the registration rolls.
Translation: MALIKI and the GOVERNMENT SUPPRESSED the VOTE! You know, how AmeriKa's political system treats blacks.
Iraqis also expressed skepticism about the political process and said they believed their votes would not matter.
Well, you may be able to fool AmeriKans, but you gotta get up pretty early in the morning to fool Iraqis.
"We gained nothing from the previous provincial council, and the promises and slogans of the new council will disappear as soon they get their posts," said Sana Mohammed, 31, of Baghdad.
What, he vote for Obama and the Democrats too?
"Most of the candidates are part of gangs working under the cover and supervision of big, powerful parties."
Yeah, the controllers here in AmeriKa are Zionists.
--more--"
