Free Elections in Iraq NOW!

[rucky]

Why 18 months? 24 months? 2-3 years?! All these estimates stated as fact, but they never really say why it'll take so long. So what's the basis for the timeline, here?

Have the elections and let an Iraqi leadership decide how to rebuild & how much involvement they want/need from the US and UN, Red Cross, etc. etc.

If they are truly "liberated", then they should vote NOW.
If our goal is truly to liberat them, then we should accept whichever leader they choose.
If they embrace our values of Democracy like the PR machine says, then we don't have to worry about another dictator taking over.
If we feel obligated to reconstruct Iraq, and they want/need our help, shouldn't we be helping on their terms?
Wouldn't these awful attacks end?
Couldn't we bring our troops home?
Wouldn't Iraq get more support from the Arab community? The world community?

Instead of "Bring Our Troops Home NOW", a more acceptable slogan should be "Free Elections in Iraq NOW"

[Bombtrack]

1. there are aren't any candidates

And the constitution isn't completed yet.

The hard truth is that they need western help to set up a fledgling market economy and illiberal government. These things do take time. That isn't a right wing spin even though I'm sure you believe it is

[NoPasaran]

9. If not now, when?

I think we should be encouraging the creation of Iraqi democracy now, perhaps initially on a local level. But eventually an Iraqi constitution has to be drafted by an Iraqi Congress, or Constituent Assembly, or Jamahiriya or whatever it will be called, not imposed by an occupying power or a gang of quislings. The sooner that process begins, the better.

[Bombtrack]

13. That's what we have and are doing

I swear people here(not you necesserily) don't read any mainstream coverage of the reconstruction. We're doing just what you said, starting with the governing council progressing to the local level and vice versa. I believe that the US(Bush himself maybe) has asked the UN or Nato to help draft the constitution with the governing council.

[newyawker99]

18. Hi NoPasaran!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[judge_smales]

2. As much as I oppose the war

I've go to say that holding elections now is a terrible idea. When We invaded on Chimp's promises of democratizing Iraq I said "That's idiotic. After decades under a dictator this guy (Bush) thinks all we have to do is knock off Saddam and suddenly everybody will understand and participate in democracy, as if they had been doing it all their lives" It was a preposterous idea then and it still is.

[karlschneider]

16. You have the right conclusion but for all the wrong reasons. The culture

of Iraq is not conducive to Western-style "democracy" (to whatever extent it still exists.)

It could only "work" if a significant majority of them actually wanted it, and they don't. It's that simple.

And besides all that, a true democracy is the FARTHEST thing from what the Cheney/bush cabal really wants. (And of course they don't want it for the USA either.)

There will never be a successful attempt to separate Islam from politics (and widdershins) in countries where it is predominant. Turkey appears to be a temporary exception for the moment, but it may well be fleeting.

[rucky]

3. alright, then NO Free Elections In Iraq - EVER!

Paternalistic bullshit...

Iraqis can't understand democracy...
They're not ready for democracy...
They don't have a constitution yet...Well WHO's gonna right the friggin constitution?! The occupying forces? Unelected officials?

It doesn't have to be the big election, it doesn't have to be perfect...but it will provide a framework for the Iraqis to build from. If they want our help, we'll give it to 'em, but until the people get a voice, all we're doing is assuming.

Of the people, by the people & for the people.

[judge_smales]

5. Uuhhhhh

That's a little extreme, don't you think?

[rucky]

8. I wrote the header before I refreshed my browser

didn't think anybody responded...hee-hee

[livinontheedge]

4. Absolutely ridiculous idea.

With security in Iraq the way it is, no one on the planet is arguing to hold elections now. Even the French realize a vote is a long way off.

[rucky]

6. Then why all the talk of bringing the troops home?

[livinontheedge]

10. You lost me. I'm not following your logic.

Can anyone doubt that we MUST stabilize the country before we can hope to have "free elections". I hate that we got into this, but now that we are there, we can not fail to bring democracy to this nation.

[rucky]

12. What is the source of the instability?

perhaps the violence & chaos are escalating because there has been no progress on, say, free elections?

What exactly do you envision happening if elections were held in 3-6 months, say? Wouldn't (at least trying) elections work toward stablizing Iraq? If not, then what strategy do you suggest that would bring stability to Iraq so we can have elections? What needs to be in place first? At the rate we're going it'll be years and that's just not acceptable.

[livinontheedge]

14. Does the fact that no other government on the planet

is proposing elections anytime soon influence your thinking whatsoever? Have you seen ANY Iraqi protest for "free elections". So, if the Iraqis aren't asking for it, and other countries are not asking for it, perhaps it may not be a good idea. Let's clear up the security situation, then hold free elections, then get the hell out of there.

[rucky]

17. France, for one...

http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/981046/posts

PARIS, Sept 12 (Reuters) - France wants a new United Nations resolution on Iraq to hand over executive powers to a U.S.-selected Iraqi Governing Council, possibly within a month, and provide for general elections by next spring.

In an editorial in the French daily Le Monde published on Friday, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin reiterated the priority was restoring Iraqi sovereignty and began setting out a timetable for a handover.

Key Security Council foreign ministers are due to meet in Geneva on Saturday to discuss a U.S.-drafted resolution to pull more international troops and money to Iraq. France and Germany want to downgrade the U.S. political role in the occupied state.

"Within a very short timeframe, for example one month, a transitional Iraqi government could be put together from (the Iraqi Governing Council) and would gradually be granted executive power, including over economic and budgetary activity," Villepin said.

"General elections could be envisaged as soon as possible, between now and spring 2004," he added.

[KG]

7. i agree - troops out, free elections, iraq for the iraqis - NOW!

[judge_smales]

11. And just how will

these Iraqi's evaluate the candidates? With what understanding of democracy will they participate in this process? How will elections be funded? Who will make sure they are fair? Who will ensure that power will be turned over to the candidate elected? Who will make sure that the military stays out of it?

We here in America have been at this for a few hundred years. We have most of these bugs worked out and we tend to take the functionality of the system for granted. These people are starting w/ nothing. They are starting w/ far less than we did, so to assume that by some magic demorcracy will spring from dry sand might be just alittle naieve.

[rucky]

15. This is what we're supposed to be doing right now...

150,000 troops...what are we doing there besides drawing fire and hunting for more enemies? We've been there over 6 months already.

And I'm not saying we should all go home and leave things as they are.

Bremer - with the assistance of the US military - should be:

setting up voting districts
registering voters
seeking citizens to run for district representation
making secure polling places
holding elections at the district (neighborhood) level
provide security for the voters
assure the elections are fair
protect the elected officials so they can set up their interrum government.

It won't be perfect - far from it. Call it a dress rehearsal. But at least we'll know who to delegate our authority to.

[Karenina]

19. Surely you jest!

"We have most of these bugs worked out and we tend to take the functionality of the system for granted. These people are starting w/ nothing." :eyes:

[KG]

21. ok: troops out, iraq for the iraqis NOW!

cause frankly i don't care what form of government they choose for themselves, cause it's not for the US to impose, it's up to them cause they're the people that gotta live under that gov't, not us.

and the US has no intention of allowing self determination in iraq, since they've been overthrowing democratically elected gov'ts since 1953, but it doesn't really matter cause can bet the iraqis are going to keep shoot at foriegners till they run them out of the country and then they will set up a gov't that suits them.

[Yupster]

20. Vote for what?

President, Prime minister, congressmen, MP's, distator?

They need a costitution to at least know what offices exist before they elect people to fill them.

Still, I think 6 months should be enough time to write a constitution.