How can anyone possibly think that elections in Iraq can help?

[King Coal]

It is such a simple realization that installing a puppet will just enrage the people there all the more. This bugs.

[Cocoa]

1. I don't think anyone does

they're already preparing us for the continued, almost definitely much worse, violence after the elections.

After the elections, they'll start talking about the elections at the end of the year, and about the constitution.

Just more fake milestones, which are tossed into the memory hole immediately after they're passed an nothing changes: the invasion, the toppling of the statue, the formation of the interim government, the drafting of the interim constitution, the formation of the governing council, the killing of Uday and Qusay, the (multiple) captures/killing of Chem Ali, the capture of Saddam, the transition to sovereignty, and on and on..

[KurtNYC]

2. Another fake milestone in the parade:

Mission Accomplished - transfer of sovereignty - capture of Saddam

Just another score on the meaningless media scoreboard.

[tx_dem41]

3. Of course, "true" elections can help.

Why do you assume that an election would install a puppet (which they have now?).

[King Coal]

4. Well, for one thing, we can't even have a valid election here.

[tx_dem41]

5. You didn't mention that in your original post. Sorry if I misunderstood.

What do you think the answer is?

[King Coal]

6. I think we should pull out of Iraq as quickly as possible.

Why wait? We can't win the war. We should cut our losses and leave.

[Sparkly]

7. I think that's what the election is for

It's what they call "cut and run" when anyone else suggests it. They'll get just enough Sunni participation to declare it a legitimate election, then proclaim the victory of freedom and democracy and beat feet. Whatever happens after that will be blamed on Iraq, their weak army, their elected leader's failures, etc. And anybody fighting for power or territory will no longer be called a "terrorist," a term used to rationalize our fighting against them.

(I do think we'll maintain a small presence there, and in desperation other countries will get involved. No matter what, it'll be seen as a massive blunder of the US.)