Iraqi Leader Says THOUSANDS Couldn't Vote

[Bluebear]

(Bush reacts)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050202/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_050202033531

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's interim president said Tuesday that tens of thousands of people may have been unable to vote in the country's historic weekend election because some polling places — including those in Sunni Arab areas — ran out of ballots.

As clerks pounded vote-count tallies into computers to compile final results, President Ghazi al-Yawer also said chaos and a power vacuum in Iraq mean U.S. forces need to stay for now, even though a new government will be formed after the results are known.

Scattered clashes were reported in rebel areas across the country, but authorities still eased security restrictions by reopening borders and allowing commercial flights to take off from Baghdad Airport for the first time since the weekend's landmark election.

The allegation that many voters were turned away could further alienate minority Sunnis, who already are complaining they have been left out of the political process.

[FreedomAngel82]

1. Shouldn't be surprised

It's BushCo. Nothing is ever fair and free. Look at here for goodness sakes. Why think it'll happen in Iraq? Yeah, right.

[Pam-Moby]

2. It sounds like our elections..."ran out of ballots" hahaha n/t

[AG78]

3. I'm shocked...shocked!

"The United States has for decades sought to play a more permanent role in Gulf regional security. While the unresolved conflict with Iraq provides the immediate justification, the need for a substantial American force presence in the Gulf transcends the issue of the regime of Saddam Hussein."

PERMANENT
PERMANENT
PERMANENT
PERMANENT
PERMANENT
PERMANENT
PERMANENT