http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/iraqielection/ en-us Sun, 8 Feb 2009 15:47:40 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2180956/posts Making sense of Iraq's January 31 provincial elections isn't easy. That they were an enormous success for Iraq, and for the United States, is certainly true. When remembering 2006, when Iraqis were dying like flies in what the New York Times's Dexter Filkins described as a "symphony of suicide bombers," and when even staunch pro-war American liberals and conservatives saw the invasion as misbegotten, I grow more respectful of my old history teacher Martin Dickson, who counseled to measure time, especially in the Middle East, in centuries, not years. In the streets of Baghdad, especially those deeply scarred by violence,... The Weekly Standard http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2180956/posts#comment Sun, 8 Feb 2009 15:47:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2178526/posts WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2009 – Iraq’s government and its security forces deserve praise for overseeing the successful and mostly violence-free provincial elections that were held countrywide Jan. 31, a senior U.S. military officer posted in Iraq said today. “First and foremost, I’d like to congratulate the government of Iraq for a successful, legitimate and credible election,” Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, told reporters during a Baghdad news conference. Iraqi soldiers and police performed well during the election, Austin said, citing their “well-coordinated and executed security plan.” The “hard work and dedication” evidenced... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2178526/posts#comment Thu, 5 Feb 2009 00:14:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2176864/posts MOSUL, Iraq (AP) -- Iraqi Christians still reeling from a string of murders last fall find themselves caught in the middle of a power struggle between Kurds and Sunni Arabs that was fueled by this weekend's elections. The minority community has faced years of violence and intimidation from al-Qaida in Iraq and other Islamic extremists. In the northern city of Mosul and surrounding areas, many also fear the Kurds want incorporate parts of the area into their semiautonomous region in northern Iraq. The issue came to the fore in Saturday's vote for members of ruling councils in most of Iraq's... AINA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2176864/posts#comment Mon, 2 Feb 2009 19:57:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2176424/posts Voter turnout in Iraq's provincial elections Saturday was the lowest in the nation's short history as a democracy, despite a relative calm across the nation. Only about 7.5 million of more than 14 million registered voters went to the polls. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2176424/posts#comment Mon, 2 Feb 2009 00:46:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2176241/posts An Iraqi man displays his purple finger after voting at the polling station in Yusifiyah during the provincial elections, Jan. 31, 2009. Every citizen who voted was required to dip their finger in indelible ink to ensure each cast but one vote. Photo by Pfc. Evan Loyd, 1st Armored Division. BAGHDAD — The citizens of Mahmudiyah Qada went safely to the election polls to vote during the provincial elections, Jan. 31. With no reports of serious violence, the free election was a monumental effort and achievement for the Iraqi Security Forces. The 17th Iraqi Army Division and Iraqi Police were... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2176241/posts#comment Sun, 1 Feb 2009 17:16:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2176128/posts There are a lot of pitfalls in the path to Iraqi democracy. But they're getting the election part down. Today's voting to choose the leadership councils of 14 of the country's 18 provinces was orderly, safe and enthusiastic. As a reporter who's covered three before (not counting the one in 2002 in which Saddam claimed 100 percent support from 100 percent turnout), this election day lived up to its promise to show the best potential of Iraq. In any polling station you found thoughtful voters, like a distinguished architect or the relative of the Jordanian royal family, a retired Army... NewsWeak http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2176128/posts#comment Sun, 1 Feb 2009 12:31:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175973/posts US President Barack Obama has congratulated Iraqis for holding a largely peaceful vote for provincial councils across the country. He called the elections "an important step forward" for Iraqi self-determination. PM Nouri Maliki hailed them as "a victory for all the Iraqis". There was a strong turn-out in Sunni areas, which boycotted the last polls. The first nationwide vote in four years is seen as a test of stability before a general election due later this year. "I congratulate the people of Iraq on holding significant provincial elections today," Mr Obama said in a statement. "This important step forward should... BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175973/posts#comment Sun, 1 Feb 2009 02:40:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175857/posts Iraqis held their most peaceful election since the fall of Saddam Hussein on Saturday, voting for provincial councils without a single major attack in a poll that demonstrated the country's dramatic security gains. U.S. President Barack Obama hailed the poll as an important step toward Iraqis taking responsibility for their future. "I congratulate the people of Iraq on holding significant provincial elections today," he said in a statement. "The purple fingers have returned to build Iraq," Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said after the polls closed, referring to the indelible ink stains on index fingers that show voters have cast their... yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175857/posts#comment Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:38:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175707/posts A campaign poster for Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki hangs from a building in Baghdad's Sadr City district, Jan. 29, 2009. The nation is holding its first free provincial elections entirely run by Iraqis, Jan 31. Photo by Sgt. Jerry Saslav, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs. SADR CITY — Something new is coming to Iraq.  The signs are in the air, plastered on walls, buildings, light posts lining the road and even strung between buildings. Provincial elections are being held today, and most public structures have, in some way shape or form, campaign posters attached to them.There have been elections in... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175707/posts#comment Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:05:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175710/posts BAGHDAD — Flying high above Baghdad, the Iraqi Air Force demonstrated its capability to view polling stations and other potential critical-incident locations in preparation for the upcoming Provincial Elections. This “eye in the sky” is a sensor system, similar to that of a U.S. Predator UAV, down-linked for display into the Iraqi Prime Minister’s National Operations Center. The demonstration of this capability was conducted for the Iraqi National Security Advisor, Dr. Mowaffak al-Rubaie, other senior Government of Iraqi officials, and Coalition military advisors, Jan. 28. The demonstration was designed to showcase the functional capability of the Iraqi Air Force’s King... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175710/posts#comment Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:08:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175706/posts Iraq's provincial elections have wrapped up without any reports of serious violence. Polls closed at 6 p.m. (10 a.m. EST) on Saturday — an hour later than planned — after millions of voters cast ballots for influential regional councils around most of Iraq. There were no reports of major violence. Iraqi authorities imposed a huge security operation around the country that included traffic bans in major cities and extensive checkpoints and surveillance posts. The U.S. military also was out in force but did not take a direct role in the election security. Fox News/AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175706/posts#comment Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:05:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2175561/posts You haven't heard much in the MSM because they've essentially stopped reporting anything from Iraq save a large bombing. Even when they do report about it, it's with a negative spin. They're pissed that George W. Bush had the nerve to order the surge and give Gen David Petraeus the tools needed to win. They wanted a loss and once it appeared we were victorious, all reporting stopped. Environmental Republican http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2175561/posts#comment Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:26:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175301/posts BAGHDAD, Jan. 30, 2009 – With coalition soldiers watching from a distance, Iraq’s provincial elections got off to a smooth start Jan. 28 as the country’s security forces, hospital patients and detainees had a chance to cast their ballots early. Army Col. Wilton Gorske, left, chief of communications with the 4th Infantry Division serving in Multinational Division Baghdad, gets a briefing from Army Maj. Peter Dargle, officer in charge of the division operations section’s Iraqi security forces cell, at the Combined Press Information Center in Baghdad’s International Zone during the first day of voting in the Iraqi provincial elections,... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175301/posts#comment Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:17:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2174588/posts WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2009 – Iraqis of all backgrounds are preparing to vote during their country’s first election since 2005, a senior Defense Department official said here today. An Iraqi Army colonel shows his purple index finger indicating that he voted during the provincial elections in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 28, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Douglas York  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. More than 15 million Iraqis are eligible to vote in the Jan. 31 provincial elections, which will select representatives for 440 council seats across the country’s 18 provinces, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told Pentagon... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2174588/posts#comment Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:00:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2174524/posts Members of the Iraqi National Police show off their newly inked fingers after voting in the provincial elections at the Bilal Al Habashi School in the Istaqlal Qada of northeastern Baghdad, Jan. 28, 2009. Photo by Scott Flenner, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs. ISTAQLAL — Members of the Iraqi Police and National Police kicked off the provincial elections by placing their vote at the Bilal Al Habashi School in Istaqlal Qada in northeast Baghdad, Jan 28. “This is a good step for Iraq and the people. They have free opinions to vote wherever they want and for any person they... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2174524/posts#comment Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:46:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2174531/posts A truckload of Iraqi Policemen head to a local voting station in Baghdad's Adhamiyah district, Jan. 28, 2009, to cast their vote in the country's second election since the fall of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jerry Saslav. CAMP VICTORY — During the 2005 provincial Iraqi elections, voters had their fingers stained with election ink to prevent them from voting twice. Some held their fingers up in pride as they took part in democracy; others hid their faces from cameras, afraid of becoming victims of sectarian violence. This year, ink or not, Iraqi Security Forces will make their... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2174531/posts#comment Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:52:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2174016/posts BAGHDAD, Jan. 28, 2009 – Soldiers with the 4th Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team and embedded provincial reconstruction team members traveled yesterday to schools in the Adhamiyah, Istaqlal and Sadr City districts here to observe preparations for Iraqi provincial elections scheduled for Jan. 31. Iraqi National Police officers discuss provincial election preparations with U.S. soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team during a visit to the Bilal al-Habashi School in northeastern Baghdad’s Istaqlal neighborhood, Jan. 27, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Scott Flenner  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The provincial elections -- the first... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2174016/posts#comment Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:23:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2174019/posts CAMP VICTORY, Iraq, Jan. 28, 2009 – During the 2005 provincial Iraqi elections, voters had their fingers stained with election ink to prevent them from voting twice. Iraqi army Pvt. Ryhad Ghani Kadhum shows off his ink-stained finger after voting in his country's second election since the end of Saddam Hussein's regime in Adhamiyah district, Baghdad, Jan. 28, 2009. The early voting day was designated for members of the Iraqi security forces, emergency personnel and displaced and disabled civilians to cast their vote. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jerry Saslav  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Some held their... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2174019/posts#comment Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:26:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2173985/posts Iraq votes in key test of nation's stabilityPosted: 29 January 2009 1136 hrs Iraqi soldiers stand outside a polling center in Najaf, Iraq BAGHDAD: Millions of Iraqis vote on Saturday in an election seen as a gauge of how far the war-torn nation has progressed since a US-led invasion ousted Saddam Hussein from power almost six years ago. Iraq has in the past year seen a stark improvement in its security situation, but tens of thousands of police and soldiers will guard the country's first ballot since 2005, testing their ability to keep the peace. The stability of Iraq has... Channel News Asia http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2173985/posts#comment Thu, 29 Jan 2009 04:35:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2173811/posts This Saturday, about 15 million Iraqis will be voting in council races across most of the country's provinces. A nationwide election will follow at the end of 2009. These, together, could determine whether Iraq evolves into the Arab world's first representative democracy, where the majority respects the rights of the minority. The price for establishing a stable, safe and free Iraq, assuming one eventually emerges, has been staggering. For Americans, maybe $3 trillion; 4,000 soldiers killed and 30,000 wounded. Some 100,000 Iraqis have died - "only" 8,000 in 2008, compared to around 20,000 in 2007. Perhaps two million Iraqis became... The Jerusalem Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2173811/posts#comment Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:38:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2173716/posts BAGHDAD — Thousands of soldiers, police officers, hospital patients and prisoners cast ballots on Wednesday as part of early voting in Iraq’s provincial elections. Overall, however, the voting appeared to go smoothly, Iraqi election officials said. About 615,000 people, most of them employed by Iraq’s security forces, were eligible to vote Wednesday, three days before Saturday’s election. Government officials said the early balloting would help ensure that security forces would be on duty to protect polling stations on Saturday, when about 14 million more Iraqis are eligible to vote. More than 14,000 candidates are running for 440 seats on provincial... NY Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2173716/posts#comment Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:24:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2173640/posts BAGHDAD (AFP) — Several hundred thousand Iraqis voted on Wednesday in the first stage of a landmark provincial election, the country's first ballot since 2005... AFP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2173640/posts#comment Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:28:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2046699/posts An Iraqi policeman stands guard outside a voter registration center in Mosul as US and Iraqi troops enter. When Iraqi Army Brigadier General Noor Aldeen visited his old secondary school in northern Mosul this week, he had little time to reminisce about placing first in spelling and arithmetic. His former school in the neighborhood of Al Nomaniya is an election registration site for upcoming regional elections in October, making it a popular place for a terrorist attack in the coming weeks. Almost all of the 57 registration sites in Iraq’s third-largest city are at primary and secondary schools --... The Long War Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2046699/posts#comment Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:20:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1982923/posts Voters from Southeast Rashid raise their hands in favor of a candidate during elections at Joint Security Station Doura in southern Baghdad, March 5. The elections were the first of their kind, providing the people with seven representatives to the Government of Iraq. Photo by Pfc. Nathaniel Smith, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. BAGHDAD — In the United States, “Decision ‘08” is getting into full swing with political parties holding primaries and caucuses in states around the Nation. In southern Baghdad, the story is no different as the people of East Rashid held elections this week to determine... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1982923/posts#comment Sun, 9 Mar 2008 17:36:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1690941/posts Iraq's prime minister plans to reshuffle his cabinet just 100 days after it was formed because of frustrations with some ministers' performance and disloyalty among others, Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih told Reuters. snip. Some changes will involve the movement of radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, several political sources said on Sunday. A key player in the government formed in May after months of wrangling, Sadr denies his Mehdi Army militia runs some of the sectarian death squads behind much recent violence. "There will be a government reshuffle. There will be some changes in a number of cabinet portfolios," Salih,... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1690941/posts#comment Sun, 27 Aug 2006 19:06:30 GMT