So who are the candidates running for office in Iraq? Allawi, Allawi and

[radwriter0555]

Allawi?

Anyone?

And what are their platforms? Better bullets for firing squads? Easier clean up after bombing missions?

[Vincardog]

1. Just dancing as fast as I can boss. Can I get you something else Mr. W?

The real question is 'Does a CIA asset need a platform?'

[3days]

2. Guess the candidates

and guess the polling places

[RoeBear]

3. These guys?

Allawi, Allawi, Allinfree

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. From wikipedia

probably as reliable as anything:

The main political factions have united into several coalitions, each competing in a joint list. The coalitions are more closely linked with ethnic and sectarian divisions, than with positions on the political spectrum.

* United Iraqi Alliance (mainly Shia Arab: includes moderate and radical Islamists, liberal secularists, and others)
* Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan (mainly Kurdish: includes traditionalists, social democrats, Communists, and Islamists)
* Iraqi List (mainly secular Shia, led by former exile and interim prime minister Iyad Allawi)
* Independent Democrats Movement (secular, led by former exile Adnan Pachachi)
* The Iraqis (mainly tribal Sunni Arabs, led by interim president Ghazi al-Yawer)
* People's Union (mainly Shia: secular leftists led by the Iraqi Communist Party)
* Iraqi Turkmen Front (Turkmen)
* Assyrian Democratic Movement (Assyrian Christians)
* Independent Alliance of Civil Societies (feminist and human rights groups)

Organized Sunni Arab groups (including the Iraqi Islamic Party, the Association of Muslim Scholars, and the banned Ba‘ath Arab Socialist Party) are boycotting the elections. However, there are Arab Sunnis on the lists of secular parties.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_transitional_parliamentary_election

The most sensible candidate may be a cousin of Allawi, who they showed on British TV a few days ago. He is campaigning solely in the UK to the expats there. Much safer than setting foot in the country.

[readmylips]

6. Allawi controls Iraqi media...

only candidate allowed to campaign on TV and printed media. Others must use underground printed media.

But like Karzai of Afghanistan and bush of the USA, Allawi is not allowed outside of his US protected castle. Like bush, he's afraid of his own people. Beginning to think Allawi is also a USA prisoner.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Salam Pax did a film on the election for the BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/40746000/rm/_40746619_nb_iraq20_vi.ram

He says that Allawi's party is the only one campaigning on TV, but others have a large poster presence - not exactly underground. And Allawi's politicians can't campaign easily outside of the green zone - it's too dangerous for them.

[LiberalFighter]

5. Don't forget all the anonymous candidates...

anonymous because they might get assassinated if anyone knew they were running.