Do you believe the Iraqi election was (will be) legitimate?

[FormerDittoHead]

Poll question: Do you believe the Iraqi election was (will be) legitimate?

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

1. As legitimate as the

2000, 2002, and 2004 elections here

[Poppyseedman]

2. Based on the fact

all we got was United States media spin, I'll take a wait and see attitude.

I do think it was a good start.

At least it was more legit than the last elections choice of "vote for Saddam" or "see your family tortured"

99% winning percent doesn't happen in free election

[ThorsHammer]

3. Well said

I don't think it was perfect, but was a good start, and a helluva lot better than having a no-choice situation like Saddam (pre-war) or Bremer (post war). It was definitely encouraging to see the normal Iraqis brave the dangers to vote, even if the system wasn't perfect.

[welshTerrier2]

4. no, it was NOT "a good start" ... the elections were NOTHING

the problem in Iraq is that there are different factions each with their own interests ...

what is needed is a regional negotiating process supported by the international community ... bush will try to "legitimize" the new government by saying that elections were open to everyone ... but the "legitimacy" will not be recognized at all by the Sunnis and other groups in the north and the conflict will continue as before ...

the elections failed to address this central issue at all ... not one single bit ... the fact that many turned out to vote only underscores that every Iraqi wants a voice in the process ... there's nothing surprising or new about that ...

the problem is, that those who have been fighting the U.S. occupation do not believe they will have a voice in the process ... they will not except a Shia majority ... and all the long lines they show you on the TV will have no impact on that at all ...

here's a thread on this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3034372