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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 --...

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...

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,...

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. In a weekend interview, he said Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki would make the changes soon in an "important signal" of commitment to efficiency in his national unity coalition and to his efforts to rally factions behind a reconciliation plan to avert civil war. 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...

BAGHDAD -- The completion of the national unity government Thursday in Iraq marks the starting point for repaying Iraqis' commitment to and thirst for democracy. We are at this juncture thanks to the bravery of the soldiers, police and citizens who have paid the highest price to give Iraq its freedom. Our national unity government will honor these sacrifices by pursuing an uncompromising agenda to deliver security and services to the Iraqi people and to combat rampant corruption. This government will build on the additional momentum gained from the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in order to defeat terrorism and...

8:33 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: The formation of a unity government in Iraq is a new day for the millions of Iraqis who want to live in freedom. And the formation of the unity government in Iraq begins a new chapter in our relationship with Iraq. This morning, I called the President, the Prime Minister and the Speaker to congratulate them on working together to form the unity government. I assured them that the United States will continue to assist the Iraqis in the formation of a free country, because I fully understand that a free Iraq will be an...

BAGHDAD, May 20, 2006 – In a watershed day in Iraqi history, the country's Parliament today approved 39 ministers and state secretaries that form the elected, representative government. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announces his new Cabinet in the Baghdad convention center May 20. Multinational Force Iraq photo   The Parliament confirmed Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's choices for the Iraqi national unity government. The 37-member Cabinet contains representatives from all major parties and all major ethnic and secular groups. Following the vote, the ministers took their oath of office during a session broadcast throughout Iraq. The Parliament met at the...

I congratulate Prime Minister Maliki on the formation of Iraq's new unity government. Iraqis now have a fully constitutional government, marking the end of a democratic transitional process in Iraq that has been both difficult and inspiring. This broadly representative unity government offers a new opportunity for progress in Iraq. The new government reflects Iraq's diversity and opens a new chapter in that country's history. Iraq's new leaders know the period ahead will be filled with great challenge. But they also know that they -- and their great country -- will not face them alone. The United States and freedom-loving...

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's parliament approved the country's new Cabinet Saturday, opening the way for the inauguration of a national unity government three years after the U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein. Incoming Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki told the 275-member parliament that he would make restoring stability and security the top priority of his new administration. Approval of the Cabinet is the final stage in formation of a national unity government the United States hopes can calm the violence raging in the country. < snip > The 37-member Cabinet took months of negotiations to form after the Dec. 15 elections and...

The Truth - Iraqi elections mean Nothing to the democrats! FOX just had a discussion about President Bush's upcoming speech this Monday night. When asked about the impact it would have, "democratic strategist" Mary Ann Marsh said, "Bush giving a speech, is like having an election in Iraq, it doesn't mean anything". How Foul and Disgusting!!

Iraqi Vice President Dr. Adel Abdulmahdi and Acting Prime Minister Nouri Al-Malki said that the new government formation will be announced in less than three days. Parliamentarian bloc leaders met Saturday evening at Abdulmahdi's house, and although the gist of the meeting was not announced, Dr. Abdulmahdi said that the first formed Iraqi government will be announced this week. Dr. Abdulmahdi said that there are no complications in forming the government, however, politicians and leading figures should take action to control the daily violence that has broke out in different areas of the country. Information indicate that the Ministry of...

Dr. Iyad Allawi has been chosen as Secretary General of Iraqi National Security Council, this was revealed by Iraqi Parliament.

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2006 – The makeup of Iraq's new unity government reflects the diversity of its society, President Bush said here today. "After months of patient negotiations, Iraqi leaders reached an agreement on a unity government," Bush said in a speech on energy policy. "This new leadership reflects the diversity of Iraq, and it reflects the will of the Iraqi people who defied the terrorists and killers and went to the polls last December." The Iraqi parliament April 22 elected seven high-ranking officials, including President Jalal Talabani, who then named Jawad al Maliki as prime minister-designate. The new government...

The selection of a compromise prime minister in Iraq is a major victory for that country’s fledgling political class, and for the Bush administration. Purveyors of doom on Iraq now have some explaining to do: If the country is in the midst of a full-scale civil war fatal to our project there, how is it that elected representatives of the major factions were able to sit down and hammer out an agreement on the top positions in a national unity government? Iraq pessimists act like they have a special immunity from ever having to recalibrate their view of the conflict,...

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2006 – After months of deadlock, Iraq reached an "important milestone" in its journey toward democracy with an agreement on top leadership posts for a national unity government, President Bush said yesterday. The parliament elected a president, two vice presidents, a parliament speaker and two deputies yesterday. President Jalal Talabani then named Jawad al Maliki as prime minister-designate. "This agreement represents compromise and consensus among many different Iraqi groups and it came after months of patient negotiations," Bush said in a speech at the California Highway Patrol Academy in Sacramento. "The agreement reflects the will of the...

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Shiite politicians agreed Friday to nominate Jawad al-Maliki as prime minister, replacing the incumbent in a bid to clear the way for a long-delayed new government, two Shiite officials said. Al-Maliki is a top ally of outgoing Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, whose nomination had sparked sharp opposition from Sunni Arab and Kurdish leaders and caused a deadlock lasting months. Leaders of the seven parties that make up the Shiite alliance agreed on al-Maliki's nomination in a meeting Friday evening, said Jalal Eddin al-Sagheer, a member of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, the largest...

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraq's president formally designated Shiite politician Jawad al-Maliki to form a new government Saturday, starting a process aimed at healing ethnic and religious wounds and pulling the nation out of insurgency and sectarian strife. The move ends months of political deadlock among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds that threatened to drag the nation into civil war. Al-Maliki has 30 days to present his Cabinet to parliament for approval. Parliament elected President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, to a second term and gave the post of parliament speaker to Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, a Sunni Arab. Al-Mashhadani's two deputies were to...

<p>BAGHDAD, Iraq - After months of political deadlock, Iraq's parliament convened Saturday and filled top leadership posts, starting the process of putting together a new government aimed at pulling the country out of insurgency and sectarian strife.</p> <p>President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, was elected to a second term, and the post of parliament speaker went to Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, a Sunni Arab. Al-Mashhadani's two deputies were to be Khalid al-Attiyah, a Shiite, and Aref Tayfour, a Kurd.</p>

Iraq: Jaafari ready to give up its candidature for the post of Prime Minister BAGHDAD - Ibrahim Jaafari was ready Thursday to be given up her candidature for the post of Prime Minister after having lengthily insisted to succeed itself, opening the way at an exit of the political crisis in Iraq. "Doctor Jaafari was selected like candidate by the Iraqi unified list (AUI, the block Shiite) and it asks today this block to decide its candidature", declared one of its close relations Jawad Al-Maliki with the press. Outgoing the Prime Minister thus leaves with his block the choice...

The majority of Iraqis overall view the recent parliamentary elections as valid, are optimistic that their country is going in the right direction and feel that the overthrow of Saddam Hussein has been worth the costs. Sunnis, on the other hand... The poll was conducted for WorldPublicOpinion.org by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland and was fielded by KA Research Limited... Among the Shia and Kurds optimism is even higher. Seventy-six percent of Kurds and 84% of Shia say they think the country is headed in the right direction. the ethnic divisions are very...

ALARM - Opening of the inaugural session of the new Iraqi Parliament BAGHDAD - the Iraqi Parliament elected on December 15 opened Thursday its first session in Baghdad in the medium of imposing safety measures, according to correspondents' of AFP.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's president said Monday he would convene the new parliament for the first time on March 12, beginning a 60-day countdown during which lawmakers must elect a new head of state and sign off on a prime minister and Cabinet. A string of explosions in Baghdad and north of the capital, meanwhile, killed at least 14 Iraqis and wounded 52. A U.S. soldier was reported killed in insurgency-plagued western Anbar province, pushing the American military death toll to 2,300 since the beginning of the war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The violence underscored...

al-Jaafari's nomination to continue for four more years as Iraq's prime minister is already in trouble, according to Iraqi sources. "I doubt he will be confirmed," said a member of the United Iraqi Alliance, the Shia political coalition that last week nominated al-Jaafari. The nomination by the UIA, the largest political group in the new Iraqi Council of Representatives, or parliament, was supposed to make confirmation a formality. But al-Jaafari is unpopular with the Kurds, the second largest bloc in the council. And his most powerful backer, anti-American Shia militant Muqtada al-Sadr, is anathema to another bloc, led by former...

February 13, 2006 Unreported History in Baghdad By Lieutenant Colonel John M. Kanaley The silence was deafening and the seats were empty. The western press was nowhere to be found. The location was Baghdad and the event was a February 10th, 2006 press conference announcing the final verification of December's election results. Although the final allocation of parliamentary seats did not change from last month's tentative reports, the conference was nonetheless significant for American and Iraqi history. What was equally significant was the absence of members of the western press. If the pre-release of the topics to be discussed included...

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, and former Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, right, leave the Prime Minister's office after a meeting, in central Baghdad, Iraq Friday, Feb. 11, 2005. Secular and tough-minded, Ayad Allawi seems the perfect U.S. choice to run Iraq's security forces. But many fellow Shiites have never forgiven Allawi for decisions taken when he was prime minister and seem ready to fight to keep him on the political sidelines.

Shiite lawmakers chose Ibrahim al-Jaafari today to continue as prime minister in Iraq's next government, after a contentious internal ballot that exposed the growing power of anti-American fundamentalists within the new Iraqi Parliament. The selection of Jaafari, a moderate Islamist, is the first step toward the creation of a full-term, four-year government. They will now begin negotiating in earnest with the leaders of Iraq's other political groups to create a cabinet. That task, which is expected to take months, could be complicated by the surprise selection of Mr. Jaafari, who has been widely criticized for his tenure as prime minister...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Shiite lawmakers Sunday chose Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to head Iraq's new government, Shiite officials said. Al-Jaafari won 64 votes, one more than Vice President Adil Abdul-Mahdi, officials said. There were two abstentions. More than 100 lawmakers from the Shiite coalition, the United Iraqi Alliance, gathered to vote. The choice of the umbrella Shiite alliance is assured of becoming prime minister because Shiites won the most parliament seats in the Dec. 15 national elections. Shiite lawyers cast their votes at the heavily guarded home of Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, the head of Abdul-Mahdi's party. Al-Jaafari's supporters gathered in the...

Iraqi elections solve little (21 January 2006) Glen Rangwala looks at how the elections in Iraq are unlikely to bring national reconciliation, and how the US is deepening the hostility with every bomb dropped. Published in Labour Left Briefing (February 2006) All the talk in Iraq’s official political circles since the national parliamentary elections on 15th December has been about forming a government of national unity. This, we are told, would bring in the main political groups from all three major ethnic and sectarian groupings – the Kurds, the Sunni Arabs and the Shi‘a Arabs. The new parliament, elected for...

Three Iraqi electoral lists, consisting of 80 seats, have agreed to unite to bolster their negotiating position in the future government, liberal politician Adnan Pachachi said Friday. Pachachi said that along with the secular list of former prime minister Iyad Allawi's 25 seats, the new group will include the religious Sunni National Accordance Front, with 44 seats, and the more secular Sunni National Dialogue Front of Saleh al-Mutlaq and his 11 seats. Pachachi, who ran on Allawi's list, added that a number of other smaller political parties are interested in joining, which might increase the group's size to 88 seats....

THOUGHTS ON THE IRAQI ELECTIONS & THE NEW YORK TIMES In its December 15th cover story on the eve of the Iraqi Elections, Dexter Filkins of The New York Times writes of an expected split between secular and religious groups with ominous foreboding, and prints as substantiated fact, what is most likely Sunni Propaganda. Firstly, why is a split between secular and religious groups a concern? Is Islam in its holiest and noblest form anathema to the development of a free market society? Certainly this is not supported by history. Or am I to assume that the NYT and its...

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 16, 2006 — This week marks the end of an era in Iraq with the transfer of authority ceremony between the XVIII Airborne Corps and Task Force Victory, 5th Corps. Lt. Gen. John R. Vines and his XVIII Airborne Corps have performed superbly, executing the tactical missions vital in achieving the successes we all benefit from today in Iraq. In the past year, the Corps has moved mountains. They secured the borders, especially those crossings in the Al Anbar province; denied safe havens to the terrorists and foreign fighters in operations such as Operation Sayaid in the...

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - An international assessment team on Thursday cited numerous violations and cases of fraud in Iraq's Dec. 15 parliamentary elections, but it did not question the final results. The International Mission for Iraqi Elections, a 10-nation monitoring body led by Canada, recommended changes for future elections but made no call for repeating any voting from the December parliamentary vote. The release of the mission's report opens the way for the announcement of the results, which was delayed amid complaints by some Sunni Arab leaders about fraud allegations. Shiite Muslim parties are believed to have preserved their...

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraq's electoral commission ruled Monday that more than 99 percent of the ballots from the Dec. 15 parliamentary elections are valid, opening the way for a new government to start coming together. Final election results have been delayed by fraud complaints mainly lodged by the Sunni Arab minority, and groups looking for a political edge in dealing with the Shiite Muslim majority could still make further protests and hold up the naming of new leaders for two or three months. A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed north of Baghdad, killing its two pilots. A...

The Suuni choose Allawi as their leader, the Kurds unite their administrations. Stage two of the current phase of the political in Iraq which we anticipated a few days ago has just begun and its beginning is marked by the emergence of a new large political bloc. The new bloc was announced today in Baghdad after the largest three blocs of Maram-the Iraqi list, the Accord Front and al-Mutlaq’s Dialogue Front-signed an agreement to form one unified political body. This agreement will grant the new political body a significant political weight with a total of approximately 80 seats in the...

BAGHDAD, Iraq, JAN. 10, 2006 (Zenit.org).- An Iraqi bishop says his faithful were faced with a "nightmare" after hard-line Muslims claimed victory in the country's general elections. Adding his voice to widespread allegations of fraud in the Dec. 15 polling, Auxiliary Bishop Andraos Abouna of Baghdad described how the hopes of the country's Christians were dashed after the elections. Iraqi Christians, victims of random kidnappings, bombings and intimidation, had hoped that the elections would signal the end of instability and halt Iraq's slide into an Islamic theocratic state, the Chaldean prelate told the charity Aid to the Church in Need....

Jan 9, 7:52 AM EST Statement Rips Sunnis for Voting in Iraq By MAAMOUN YOUSSEF Associated Press Writer CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- An Internet statement in the name of the al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist group rebuked Sunnis for participating in last month's Iraqi elections, saying they had "thrown a rope" to save U.S. policy in the country. The purported statement by group leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi also said his fighters decided not to disrupt the elections with attacks "to avoid killing some of the Sunnis who were confused" about whether to vote. He also called President Bush a liar, saying:...

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 4, 2006 — The beginning of a new year is a time to reflect on the past and look toward the future. Last year was a monumental year. The year began with the successful election of a transitional government, the Iraqi people wrote and ratified a constitution and recently held another successful election. Along the way, more than 15 million Iraqis registered to vote and an increasing number voted in each event, due in part to an increasingly secure environment. A key to the improved security environment was the growth and capability of Iraqi police and army...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Until almost the last minute, Muhammed Wattan had been willing to buck the trend. The 33-year-old Baghdad resident and Shiite Muslim was determined to vote for Ahmad Chalabi's slate of secular candidates in the Dec. 15 parliamentary election. Wattan figured that Chalabi was just the man to establish order and prosperity in war-weary Iraq. On election eve, however, Wattan decided that defending his religious sect was paramount and switched his vote to a religious Shiite ticket. "I felt that we are at war," said Wattan, a college-educated clerk. "Chalabi is not the man for this war." Interviews...

Editor's Note: After much deliberation and discussions among the Townhall.com editorial staff, we are proud to name the Iraqi people as our first annual Citizen of the Year. John Hanley, who served as a civilian with the Department of Defense and the Department of State in Iraq from 2003 to 2005, has provided some excellent first-hand analysis of our selection. Enjoy! ******* 2005 was the year of the vote in Iraq.On three separate days this year, Iraqis had the opportunity to leave their homes, walk to their polling stations, and cast their votes. This simplest of civic duties, something that...

U.S. Army Doctor Delivers Iraqi Election-Day Baby Iraqi army soldiers helped transport an Iraqi mother, experiencing delivery complications, to a combat support hospital where she gave birth to a baby girl on Iraq's election day. By U.S. Army Spc. Rick Rzepka Scimitar Assistant Editor BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 28, 2005 — During the early morning hours of parliamentary elections on Dec. 15, a birth took place at the 10th Combat Support Hospital here. "A beautiful baby like that can give us hope for the future in this troubled land." U.S. Army Col. (Dr.) Brian Crisp On the outskirts of Habbaniyah,...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28, 2005 – Free and fair elections in Iraq and Afghanistan represent the U.S. military's most significant accomplishment in 2005, the top U.S. enlisted servicemember said. Army Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Gainey, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, began 2005 in Iraq as the senior enlisted advisor for Multinational Corps Iraq. He witnessed the Jan. 30 elections there and said the event and subsequent elections in Iraq and Afghanistan are significant on many levels. "I think elections are the key focus," Gainey said in an interview. "When you can go into...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A United Nations official said Wednesday that Iraq's recent parliamentary elections, which have given a strong lead to the Shiite religious bloc dominating the current government, were credible and that there was there was no justification in calls for a rerun. In violence Wednesday, an inmate in a Baghdad prison grabbed an assault rifle from a guard and opened fire, killing eight people, police said. One American soldier was injured in the attempted prison break, the U.S. military said. The Shiite bloc held talks with Kurdish leaders about who should get the top 12 government jobs, as...

Why still no big-font, front-page headlines screaming, “Millions Vote in Historic Middle East Election!” or “Democracy Comes At Last To Iraq” or “America’s Push for Iraqi Democracy Working”? Besides the politics of gloom — Bush at home and America abroad are always wrong — and the weariness with the violence, there has sadly been too small a constituency for trusting that Arabs should run their own affairs through consensual government. Remember the ingredients of the good old American foreign policy in the Middle East — the one that operated before the bad-new days of neoconservatism?

Iraq's brilliant example'Purple-finger revolution' is a vindication of U.S. policyBy Salim MansurFor the third time in a year, Iraqis confounded the world as they went to the polls Dec. 15 to electing a new 275-member parliament under the constitution they voted for in October. Here are a few remarkable facts jubilantly reported soon after polling closed by the widely read Iraqi blogger based in Baghdad, "Mohammed of Iraq The Model": - Security provided by the new Iraqi army and police was much improved since the last two elections, in January and October; - The registered voters list was increased, adding...

<p>But despite militant rhetoric, seemingly aimed at increasing their leverage, Sunnis are negotiating with others to build a governing coalition on the basis of the existing poll results.</p>

BAGHDAD -- Iraq's top political leaders aimed yesterday to defuse a gathering crisis over contested general election results, while the country's top Shi'ite cleric called for setting up a national unity government. President Jalal Talabani met with ... two main political coalitions disputing the results of ... elections, the Sunni Accordance Front and former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's Iraqi National List, as well as his own Kurdish Alliance. "There is a crisis ... and it is necessary to recognize there are problems, rather than hide them," [said] Mahdi al-Hafez of the Allawi list . .. The alliance won overwhelming majorities...

The seemingly successful Iraqi election of December 15 came under critical scrutiny from several quarters. Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.), minority leader, pointed out that persons of differing political vision were elected. “There is no consensus on policy in Iraq,” Reid said. “Iraq is headed for contentious disagreements between political parties over legislation, taxes and foreign affairs. I see no harmony of viewpoints.” Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) speculated that factions within the Iraqi Parliament might attempt to impeach leaders of opposing parties. “There could be disagreements over policy, accusations of scandals or corruption, that, you know, might cause one party to...

BAGHDAD - Iraq's top political leaders met on Saturday to defuse a gathering crisis over contested general election results while the country's top Shiite cleric called for setting up a national unity government. President Jalal Talabani met with representatives from the two main political coalitions disputing the results of the December 15 elections, the Sunni National Concord Front and former prime minister Iyad Allawi's Iraqi National list, as well as his own Kurdish Alliance. "There is a crisis... and it is necessary to recognize there are problems rather than hide them," Mahdi al-Hafez of the Allawi list told reporters after...

Iraq's electoral commission is striking off some 100 candidates who ran in the December 15 general elections for links with Saddam Hussein's banned Baath party. "A court has overruled the commission's initial decision to allow them to run and we are now applying the law and removing the names of about 100 candidates," Adel al-Lami told AFP on Saturday. "We are asking political parties to submit new names from the same electoral lists to replace the candidates struck off," he said, giving no details as to the parties and candidates concerned. The electoral law does not allow former senior officials...

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A United Nations official said on Friday he saw no reason to rerun last week's Iraqi election despite allegations by Sunni Arab and secular parties of fraud. At least two dozen disgruntled Iraqi parties, including the biggest Sunni and secular blocs, formally demanded a new vote on Thursday after partial results from the Dec. 15 poll showed they had done worse than expected and that Shi'ite Islamists had again triumphed and might win a majority in parliament. But Craig Jenness, U.N. adviser to the Electoral Commission, said he doubted complaints now being investigated would lead to scrapping...