Posted on 12/03/2004 2:17:41 PM PST by goldstategop
Postponing elections will be a terrible jolt to Iraq's long-suffering Shiites, who have seen democracy as providing them the fruits of their numerical majority. But regional elections will give the Shiites the self-government they desire without the burden of taking on an invigorated Sunni insurgency and a recalcitrant, but powerful, Kurdistan. To see what is possible in their own region, the Shiites need only look north to an increasingly prosperous Kurdistan that is today the only safe part of Iraq.
For Bush, postponing national elections would be a setback; he has leaned heavily on the upcoming vote to justify his Iraq policy. But as Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) said this week, the date should not be sacrosanct. Sham elections, held too soon, would only intensify Sunni Arab resistance and possibly tear the country apart.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
The liberals positively HATE to see anything Bush does come to anything good so they will try to delegitimize every good thing he does with stupid rhetoric.
Oh Great! GW needs to jump right on this! Advice from the LA Times! A veritable font of political obfuscation.
L.A Times=Waste of ink
Anything from the LA Slimes can be discounted immediately. They had more reporters on Arnold's pecadillos and Bush's guard service than they have on the UN story, they're AWOL on that one.
Leslie Gelb worked in the JIMMY CARTER White House, if I am not mistaken.
I just listened to Gelb on John Gibson (FOX News)...he's a handwringer...
The 1864 elections during the Civil War weren't a sham even if they not includ all the states.
Today liberals are born pessimists... in their book, nothing can do right. And they wonder why they keep losing elections. I think they're afraid moderates might actually win a free election in Iraq and there goes their theory the country is an ungovernable hellhole. They certainly would like to keep it that way on the theory bad news for America is good news for them. And oh, talk about the irony of a free election in an Arab country on the date of Hitler's accession to power in Germany in 1933. There's one for the history books.
The liberals positively HATE to see anything Bush does come to anything good so they will try to delegitimize every good thing he does with stupid rhetoric...and the RINOs like Hagel, Snow and Chafee will act like an ECHO CHAMBER.
I expect stupidity from democrats but I have a greater dislike of traitors.
Good point. 11 states were not voting in 1864 and in Iraq at the worst, 3 provinces won't vote. That doesn't make the election any less free or the winners any less legitimate. No one questioned Abraham Lincoln's re-election in a country in which Southern states were not participating in an American election.
Agreed...it's as if liberals think in terms of possibilities...and they're all awful!
Listening to Rush on the way home today- he had Roger standing in...some fellow called in wanting "us" to send more troops to Iraq...a MILLION more troops! HHAAAaaaaa!
The caller neglected to explain WHERE he thinks these million more ought to come from...but he was simply beside himself contemplating the terrible possibilities. Roger kept pointing out the progress made...but this guy wasn't having any. He's determined Iraq is a failure, period.
Exactly.
1. As you pointed out, the U.S. conducted a binding election during the Civil War. If the Sunnis wish to boycott the election, simulating the South, and allow the winner to dictate terms, that is their choice.
2. Upon seeing the headline, I assumed the piece was written by journalist who should, of all people, appreciate the value of deadlines. Without them, nothing would be published. But upon realizing that we're dealing with Foggy Bottom weinies, I understand perfectly.
As a skilled manager, Bush knows that deadlines are how you get things done -- in business, in government, in life. If Bush and Allawi re-set the goal line to "when we're ready" -- which is what the liberals and the diplomatic set would do -- the vote would never come.
Let us see what the reaction in Sunniland is when they realize that the election is going to be held -- with them or without them. Then, the mullahs will be wanting Democrats to consult with them on "knock & drag" tactics.
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