Phones down, borders sealed, troops on streets: its time for democracy

[Monkie]

from the uk paper The Times

"THE plan sounds more like the preparations for war than the holding of Iraq’s first democratic elections."

"According to Iraqi and Western sources, international borders will be sealed, movement between cities tightly controlled, mobile phone networks switched off and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi security forces and foreign troops deployed in a show of force not seen since the height of the war nearly two years ago"

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1439684,00.html

aint democracy great..

[Quakerfriend]

1. These little war games are practice for the USA

[TolstoyAndy]

6. That's right, my Friend

The charade of elections is officially over in this country too,
and if you resist, they're ready with their "non-lethal" weapons.

[GetTheRightVote]

2. Sure will make that vote count, civil war is on the way

:kick:

You can not force Democracy down anyones throat, civil war is coming, civil war is coming.

Do you think they believe in * or USA to set their elections, we do not even have a democracy and they know it.

[hippiechick]

3. "You'll vote for who we tell you to vote for and you'll LIKE it, dammit !"

:eyes:

[donheld]

5. Sounds like the USSR

not an election run by the US. Odd how times have changed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Democracy by gun point, ain'f freedom grand? eom

[NV Whino]

7. Gee I thought you were talking about the 20th

[NYC]

8. I guess you could say they have outsourced some ot their voting.

Iraqis to Get 5 Polling Places in the U.S.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1149352

[kohodog]

9. And there won't be a shortage of machines there.

But at least Falajua will have ONE. (maybe)

[dave123williams]

10. I had no idea that this 'new freedom' was going to look so much...

...like an armed camp! Freedom on the march! Now, up against the wall and assume the position.

[spooked]

11. LOL I thought your title was referring to the Inauguration

n/t

[GreatAuntK]

12. Candidates?

Iraqis don't know the names of the candidates, too dangerous. And many don't even know what the numerous "parties" stand for. I heard this on Al Franken's show today, and on Randi Rhodes, I think, yesterday. It does make voting a bit awkward.

[kohodog]

14. How big is the ballot, or how small the type?

There are 111 parties. I thought the South African ballot after apartheid was interesting, but I've gotta see this. One hell of a big butterfly!

[spooked]

17. At least 53 of the Parties have already withdrawn!

Iraqi Parties Withdraw from Elections

Baghdad, Jan 13 (Prensa Latina) At least 53 Iraqi political parties and 30 independent candidates have withdrawn from the election campaign due to chaos prevailing in the Arab nation since it was occupied by the US and its allies.

According to Al Furat daily, the massive withdrawal is due to strong rejection by Iraqi figures and organizations of the US-led elections in the Arab country.

The number of candidates pulling out of the elections could increase in coming days.

http://www.periodico26.cu/english_new/world/iraq130105.htm

[montana_hazeleyes]

16. So did I n/t

[DS1]

13. Hey, look on the bright side, with the phone lines down Diebold won't be

able to dial in and rig the totals.

/maximum sarcasm

[CoffeeCat]

15. Also, if you don't have a ride to the polls

...just call the voter hotline and an armed guard will roll up in an armored tank, and provide curb-side service to the polling place!

Warning! Most trips will be one way!

[Monkie]

18. todays news: Cars to Be Restricted for Iraq Election

so i guess no rides to the polls either...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1153718

"BAGHDAD, Iraq - In an apparent bid to head off car bombings on election day, Iraqi authorities will restrict the use of automobiles throughout the country and will place security cordons around polling stations, a Cabinet minister said Saturday."

[CoffeeCat]

19. Election fraud will happen in Iraq...

Maybe this has been stated here many times before, but I just thought of this last night.

I'm betting that election fraud will occur in Iraq, but it won't be fraud that favors a particular candidate.

The fraud will exaggerate the number of Iraqis who voted.

Can't you just hear it now? "75 percent of the Iraqis voted!! They love democracy! They love freedom! And they love George Bush for bringing them free and fair elections! 75 percent!! Wow! That's a greater percentage than in the United States!! Therefore, Iraq must be even MORE safe and free than Americans are!!"

I just read that cars are banned on election day. So---despite the fact that the Iraqis will have to walk to a polling place, at the risk of being killed--we'll still hear that a high percentage voted.

Before that news hits our media, I say, "BULLROAR YOU LYING THUGS!!"

[grace0418]

20. Is that what it's going to be like on inauguration day?

I'm confused.

[lavendermist]

21. I saw your subject line

and thought you were talking about America on the 20th. Oops :scared:

[saigon68]

22. Negroponte has picked the Winner Its " CIA PUPPET ALLAWI"

DEATH IN IRAQ-NAM

It is the newest represented commonwealth, of the wealthiest nation in the Western Hemisphere,
the Consolidated Corporate States of North Amerika N.A. It may become the 53rd State of this
powerful Union

IRAQ-NAM, is a ruthless, vicious place that asks No Quarter and Gives None.

It is ruled by Viceroy Pontius Negroponte appointed by Cheney Caesar, in the year of Our Lord
Two Thousand Four Anno Domini.

Death here rides a Pale Horse.

Death claims in no particular order, the Innocent, the Guilty, the Unlucky and the Careless.

[yinkaafrica]

23. If Allawi 'wins' Americans will know Iraqi is becoming a true Democracy!

And the Iraqi people will be in a state of insane rage.
Just like now. I blame the American people, as much as I blame
all US politicians, for allowing this to happen/continue to happen.

Hiel bush!

[saigon68]

24. Yes they are a few bricks short of a full load

Never underestimate the stupidity of trailer queens and knuckle dragging hill billies.