The Importance of Free Elections
By on Jun 28th, 2005 at 8:10 pm
The Importance of Free Elections
Bush: “In January 2005, more than eight million Iraqi men and women voted in elections that were free and fair — and took place on time.”
Fact: The White House “resisted the idea of holding elections [in January] and only succumbed under pressure from Iraq’s most powerful cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani.” Iraq expert Juan Cole charges, “It was Sistani who demanded one-person, one-vote elections. So to the extent it’s a victory, it’s a victory for Iraqis. The Americans were maneuvered into having to go along with it.”
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I smell desperation, this is nothing but a pep talk.
June 28th, 2005 at 8:11 pmWhat? It’s Groundhog Day AGAIN?!?
June 28th, 2005 at 8:14 pmThe fact that the last three updates were categorized as ‘Incompetent Establishment’, during an event as noteworthy as this makes one laugh. Laudable. 53% Disapproval rate, Bush, have a seat on the bench.
June 28th, 2005 at 8:16 pmnotable lack of applause lines — empty words that the soldiers now see firsthand.
The audience looks like a big mistake this time.
June 28th, 2005 at 8:16 pmI think the soldiers were all sitting there wondering why they agreed to attend unarmed.
June 28th, 2005 at 8:57 pmWe all greatly admire the Iraq people who participated. But please note: one election under martial law does not a democracy make.
That nation, insofar as Iraq is one, is still under martial law.
I share the desire of many people–Americans, Iraqis, and much of the world community–for a democratic, stable and peaceful Iraq.
But we’re a long long way from that–in no small part due to the blunders of the Bush administration and the CPA.
In part, Bush is taking credit for what does not exist yet: a democratic Iraqi nation.
Let these people–and not the leaders we helped install–vote on whether or not they want American troops in Iraq.
That would be closer to democracy in action. And if the polling data has any validity, the Iraqi people would overwhelmning vote to end the occupation.
So some time in the near future we will have to ask ourselves: at what point does the occuption stop promoting and start repressing democracy in Iraq?
When do we stop listening to the puppets and start listening to the people?
June 28th, 2005 at 10:18 pmI’ve been listening to the people of Iraq and “they” do want us out. Yes, some are glad Saddam is gone but life with him was better than it is now.
“They” do understand why Bushie has planted his flag in the sand. “They” understand his motives. “They” do not want occupation. “They” are the insurgency. “They” are the Iraqi’s.
I agree with Thom, let the Iraqi’s vote for withdrawal.
June 28th, 2005 at 10:34 pmVaughn Hopkins: Gotta love your image! Thanks for that – I laughed so loud I woke the cats.
Pundit mentioned that nobody clapped when he came in because they were standing at attention. And they were told to be respectful and conduct themselves with military decorum. Wonder what Bush was thinking when he paused after his best lines: quotation from local general, mention freedom because we’re fighting them over there so we won’t have to fight them over here….and got silence. Even the throwaway lines like thanks for your hard work over there….marshmallow time. Bet he’s thinking some speech writer’s head is going to roll in the morning.
Historically speaking, he mentioned Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the wonderful election in Lebanon. Oops! Did he forget that Iran had an election just last week? And he didn’t even mention it. Bad blunder Bush! Makes it looks like you didn’t approve of Iran’s new democratically elected government. Where even women got to vote.
Has anyone issued a congratulations statement to Iran for their new president? Since we encourage democracy, shouldn’t we be touting it in Iran? Let’s get these stories straight guys!
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November 25th, 2005 at 3:18 pmiraqis shouls through bush out of their country
January 28th, 2006 at 8:54 am