Mid-East papers scorn Iraq poll (BBC News)

[katinmn]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4218255.stm
Mid-East papers scorn Iraq poll
Saturday, 29 January, 2005, 12:40 GMT
Reports and editorials in Middle East newspapers show widespread gloom peppered with stark warnings on the eve of Iraq's landmark election.

Some papers depict a "path of fire" or speak of booby-traps and political minefields ready to explode in voters' faces.

But there's a flicker of hope amid the uncertainty, especially in Iraqi Kurdish and Iranian pro-Shia newspapers.
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President Bush said the Iraqi elections will be a historic event and praised the brave Iraqis, who will go to the ballot boxes tomorrow. Bush's words do not reflect Iraq's reality, but rather his obstinacy and attempt to conceal the failure of his plan in Iraq. Iraqis want democracy by all means. However, to talk about democracy in the light of bloody chaos is a complete fraud.

Pan-Arab Al-Quds Al-Arabi editorial

--the article contains brief exerpts form eight other Mideast newspapers --

[Sandpiper]

1. To suggest that any sort of meaningful democracy can arise

Under the jackboots and heavy hands of a foreign invader who is overseeing the whole process, is intellectually dishonest at best.

[kuozzman]

2. That can't be true. FOX AND CNN both specifically pointed out that

even ALL of the Arabic media was VERY "upbeat" about the election.

hmmmmm.......

[bahrbearian]

3. "but rather his obstinacy and attempt to conceal the failure of his plan "