U.S. military too eager to help Iraqis vote -UN

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N26525560.htm

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 26 (Reuters) - U.N. officials have had to discourage an "extremely overenthusiastic" U.S. military from helping to get out the vote in Iraq before Sunday's election, the top U.N. electoral adviser said on Wednesday.

"The U.S. military has been extremely overenthusiastic in trying to help out with these elections," said Carina Perelli, who heads the U.N. Electoral Assistance Division.

"We have been basically saying that they should try to minimize their involvement as this is an Iraqi process," she told a news conference, adding Iraq's election commission had delivered the same message.

The Bush administration sees successful elections in Iraq as an affirmation of its policy to spread democracy in the Middle East. But some Iraqis view the United States as an occupier and blame the insurgency on continuing U.S. involvement in their nation.

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[Be Brave]

1. They've got their orders.

Sad. :cry:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

2. gives new meaning to the "Vote or Die" campaign huh?

[billyoc]

9. Or is it "Vote *and* Die"?

I forget.

Oh, just die, already. :eyes:

[judy]

3. Also, even sadder,

I can't help but think that somewhere they believe that if the election comes out OK, they will get to go home...

:cry:

[VegasWolf]

6. Very true, they've bought the bush kool-aid. Even with bush's

puppet Allawi et al sitting tight, they aren't going
home till the civil wars are over and Halliburton's oil is
safe. Which will be never.

[ECH1969]

4. I would be extremely overenthusiastic

at getting out the vote too, if I thought that if things go well it might get me home any sooner as I am sure most soldiers believe.

[ECH1969]

5. Also if there is low turn out amoung the Sunnis

It increases the possibility that the Shia will win it all and the Sunnis will be totally shut out leading to a fullscale civil war with our troops in the crossfire.

[Igel]

8. That's what I thought.

But then I read something saying that the Kurds had pushed for a 3-province veto of the constitution that these elected ones are to write. Any three provinces vote it down, it's dead.

Sunni Arab "insurgency" is in part or most of 4 provinces. Leave out the Sunni Arabs, they vote it down, and they're back to square one.

(On the other hand, it strikes me as highly cynical, in a honor-centric sort of way, to boycott the elections, and then state up front that they expect to be invited in to participate.)

[Malva Zebrina]

7. How can anyone believe this vote will be an indication of "freedom"

when the country is occupied by 150,000 American troops, when thirteen or fourteen American military installations have been built and when Bremer's 100 points will stand, not withstanding any new constitution?

How can there possibly be fair and free elections when a country is occupied and run by the US military?

It is all a sham and it is truly pitiful that my country has resorted to shameless propaganda to make people believe that we have brought "freedom" and "democracy" to this small, defenseless country, by forcing this bogus "election" while, incredibly, it is occupied?

[cliss]

10. You are so right. What a shameful

sham. I believe this entire "election" is for American consumption. The clowns in Washington believe that if they can convince us that progress is being made, then we'll accept this occupation.

I don't believe this whole Shakespearean mess is for them - it's for us. As our boys are dying and getting permanent injuries, this is supposed to make it all worthwhile.

[NNN0LHI]

11. Had a DUer trying to convince me the other day that the US is not...

...technically occupying Iraq any more because Bush appointed this thug Allawi to be the interim prime minister. I couldn't believe what I was reading.

Don

[saigon68]

15. I saw that thread

That person was a "PIECE OF WORK"

[NYC]

12. A friend's brother in the National Guard expects to come home soon

"if the election goes well".

My friend knows better, but his brother doesn't.

[CoffeeCat]

13. These elections are meaningless...

...just like the transition-of-power show, which was put on display for Americans.

Remember, Bremer flying out of Iraq? That was supposed to symbolize new-found freedom for the Iraqi people.

What a joke.

BushCo can stage as many elaborate PR hoaxes as they want. Iraq is not free and it won't be until we are gone.

On another note, I think it's sick that we're being so vociferous about the Iraqis voting. It's fine to inform the Iraqis about voting procedures and to encourage them. However, it sounds like we are being overly aggressive. When an Iraqi goes to the polls, they are putting their lives on the line.

Please don't cajole these people into getting killed--so the Chimpster can pontificate about high voter turnout. Please!

[NNN0LHI]

14. Watch the liberal US media tell us how great the "vote" went on Monday n/t

[makhno]

17. The idiotic debate will be over numbers

Oh, but did a sufficient number of Iraqis go to the polls on Sunday? What kind of participation levels do we need for the election to be considered a success? The foundation for this was laid with a couple of appropriate questions during W's press conference yesterday.

It is so retarded, it makes me ill to even think about how this travesty is going to play out in the media. How can it matter how many Iraqis show up at the polls when the election is held in an occupied country, with candidates unable to campaign, with unmonitored ballot counting? It simply cannot be considered legitimate, even if US troops truck 100% of the Iraqi population to the polls. Not to mention the fact that election or not, the country is going to remain in chaos.

But don't expect to hear any misgivings in our propaganda organs.

[leftchick]

19. I don't know why but I watched CNN this AM

they are in full "everything is gonna be great" mode. It was barf material. Jane Araf did a special segment in Fallujah showing the US troops helpng with the election preparations "at the request of the Iraqi government"

This whole thing is pure bullshit and the world knows it except for the stupid ameriKans.

[74dodgedart]

16. This is their way home..

They have to hope for successes if they are going to get out of Iraq.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like it's going to happen

[leftchick]

18. They Will Be Voting At US BASES in Fallujah!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1187994&mesg_id=1187994

Isn't there some Military code against this?!? :wow: