My life and the occassional political rant.
Is this a legitimate election?
Published on February 2, 2005 By sqrrldrw In Democrat
The other day Iraqis went out and were able to vote, great. Choice is a good thing. Being able to determine your future: also a good thing. However, two articles by al-jazeera cast some doubt onto whether or not these were legitimate elections or if they were just a staged media event to give the appearance of victory (see aircraft carrier and "Mission Accomplished" banner). Check out the articles:

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B410976F-73A0-496F-A62A-CB01C3FAE6C5.htm

Association of Muslim Scholars critical of Iraq elections:

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F1149ACC-43EE-4BA6-AD8A-AC9D62290514.htm

Oh yeah, once again, NO WMDs found in Iraq. Now even the CIA is admitting it:

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B83F5D7E-F56F-45EF-AEAB-D255E8FC78FE.htm

Enjoy!

Comments
on Feb 02, 2005
By: sqrrldrw
Posted: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 on sqrrldrw
Message Board: Democrat
The other day Iraqis went out and were able to vote, great. Choice is a good thing. Being able to determine your future: also a good thing. However, two articles by al-jazeera cast some doubt onto whether or not these were legitimate elections or if they were just a staged media event to give the appearance of victory (see aircraft carrier and "Mission Accomplished" banner). Check out the articles:


Do you know what this election was for?
on Feb 02, 2005
Here's an AP article similar to the al-jazeera one:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=1&u=/ap/20050201/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq
Also, an interesting Op-Ed piece by an Iraqi exile comparing this election with the 1967 Vietnam one: http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1402922,00.html
on Feb 02, 2005
It starts....


Tell me, sqrrldrw, is there any scenario below "perfection" that you would stoop to accept the election in Iraq?

and I wonder, isn't one of the other whines over this election that the Sunni's failed to show up in epidemic numbers?? If Sunnis didn't show, how could the polls run out of ballots??
on Feb 02, 2005

First, Quoting Al Jazeera on matters of anything is like quoting Adolph Eichmann on the contributions of Jews.

Second, the Yahoo story merely reconfirms that the election was not perfect, but never the less a resounding sucess exceeding everyone's expectations, thus answering your sub header with a resounding YES.

Try to be at least the least bit objective in the future.  If that is possible.

on Feb 02, 2005
If Al-Jazeera is the voice of the Middle East it should be of the utmost importance to the U.S. as the occupiers in the region. If we are to understand or "win the hearts and minds" of the Iraqis (or anyone in the area) we better damn well read Al-Jazeera and listen to what the people of the region think. Otherwise we'll be left with either another Vietnam or El Salvador.

Also, I think their articles are for the most part legitimate. Definitely better researched than that Fox News Propaganda.

on Feb 02, 2005

sqrrl,


Actually, al jazeera is as much a propaganda machine as ANY of the American news outlets, if not more so. "Consider the source" is a good axiom in this instance.

on Feb 02, 2005

Reply #5 By: sqrrldrw - 2/2/2005 1:20:19 PM Also, I think their articles are for the most part legitimate. Definitely better researched than that Fox News Propaganda.


And that is where you would be the most wrong ever. It has been well established that Al-Jazeera is an "extermely" biased (anti-american) news source. So drguys post stands on it's own.

First, Quoting Al Jazeera on matters of anything is like quoting Adolph Eichmann on the contributions of Jews.


on Feb 02, 2005

If Al-Jazeera is the voice of the Middle East it should be of the utmost importance to the U.S. as the occupiers in the region. If we are to understand or "win the hearts and minds" of the Iraqis (or anyone in the area) we better damn well read Al-Jazeera and listen to what the people of the region think. Otherwise we'll be left with either another Vietnam or El Salvador.

That is comparable to saying you must read Democratunderground to win the hearts and minds of america, or to understand them.  Only the looniest of the left would agree with that statement.

on Feb 02, 2005
Oh, please. This is sad.

There is no silver lining that they can't find a black cloud for.

Cheers,
Daiwa
on Feb 02, 2005

Oh, please. This is sad.

There is no silver lining that they can't find a black cloud for.

So true!  And a shame.  Gollums exist and thrive in every world.