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VOTING IN IRAQ HAS BEGUN!
Iraq the Model ^ | 12/12/05 | Omar

Posted on 12/12/2005 9:51:25 AM PST by areafiftyone

The voting has begun! (updated)


Voting in Iraq’s second parliamentary elections has begun this morning; this coincides with the deadline for all campaigning activities by all lists and parties who are required now to enter “electoral silence”.
The first votes are coming from army bases, detention centers and hospitals.




The presence of representatives from different political bodies was strong in the voting centers we have seen on TV so far.





The political bodies used SMS technology for campaigning for the first time; more than 20 lists and parties sent hundreds of thousands of messages via cell phones throughout the country; I for instance received one of those messages.

Another form of propaganda war has been used recently; rumors were used to spread false news about several lists withdrawing from the election or joining larger lists.
Local media brought several such news headlines only to refute soon after, for example it was reported that three mainly Shiit lists-the 15th of Sha’ban movement, the Dawa movement and the Independent Technocrats list- have joined the UIA or withdrawn from the election for the benefit of the UIA. But the leaders of at least one of these lists appeared on TV to say that nothing like that happened.

The latest clarification from Ayatollah Sistani’s office was met by relief from many politicians and parties who were worried about having to compete with a list endorsed by the clergy.

The IECI made a request to the defense ministry and the multinational forces to suspend all military operations especially in Mosul and Anbar and it was reported that this request was answered by a promise from both parties to limit military operation to self-defense.

Also in this regards Al-Sabah published an interview with Abdul-Hussein al-Hindawi a senior IECI official in which he shed light on the state of preparation for the elections:
Regions Anbar province were classified into three categories:
1-Fallujah and eastern Ramadi: All voting stations will be open.
2-The rest of Ramadi: In this relatively unsafe region some voting stations will not be open.
3-Western Anbar: Hit, Husayba and Qaim, most stations will not be open.
Overall, 160 out of 207 offices will be functional on the 15th in Anbar.
In Mosul it is expected that all stations and offices will be functional. The governor of Mosul Dr. Kashmoola expected a 85% turnout in the province.
Mr. Hindawi said that the EU, the Islamic Conference and the Arab League “didn’t answer our requests for sending in envoys to monitor the election” but he also added that there will be 780 internationals to monitor the process and that a special team from the UN assist in counting the votes with the aid of a special computer system.

When asked about the expected turnout, Hindawi expected an overall rate of 68%.

The Iraq without violence network revealed that they have counted more than 220 incidents of electoral violence, most of which concentrated in the middle and southern regions of the country and they were mostly cases of tearing campaign posters and signs and were recorded against individuals rather than lists or parties.

Tomorrow Tuesday, voting will start for Iraqis outside Iraq in 521 stations in 108 voting centers hosted in 38 cities in 15 countries and on Thursday 7,000 candidates will compete in the nationwide elections, ballots will be cast in 6,200 centers totaling 32,000 stations overseen by nearly a hundred thousand monitors.

Isn't that exciting!

Update:

The IECI office in Babil announced that this morning more than 6000 policemen, 1700 soldiers, 500 detainees and prisoners and 650 administered patients have cast their votes.
In this province there are 660 candidates from 78 different lists are competing for the province’s 11 seats.
On Thursday, 749,000 voters will have the chance to cast their votes in 1581 station located within 273 centers under the supervision of 10,250 officials and in the presence of 20,000 representatives of political bodies.



Posted by Omar @ 15:31


TOPICS: Military/Veterans; Politics
KEYWORDS: iraq; iraqielection; iraqthemodel; personalaccount

1 posted on 12/12/2005 9:51:26 AM PST by areafiftyone
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To: areafiftyone

Anyone know of any live webcasts, tv or webcam of this process? Thanks.


2 posted on 12/12/2005 9:57:54 AM PST by FEARED MUTATION
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To: areafiftyone
When we went into Iraq, I never even dreamed this would be one of the outcomes. Imagine being able to vote for people you know after being forced to vote for a dictator for so many years.

These are intelligent, VERY BRAVE people. I wish them all good things!!

3 posted on 12/12/2005 9:59:01 AM PST by Sacajaweau (God Bless Our Troops!!)
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To: FEARED MUTATION
Dont' know yet. Haven't seen anything yet I'm sure the MSM will get right on this good new in Iraq- NOT!!
4 posted on 12/12/2005 10:04:42 AM PST by areafiftyone (Politicians Are Like Diapers, Both Need To Be Changed Often And For The Same Reason!)
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To: areafiftyone

Hahaha. Right, we'll even a local webcast. I recall there was one for the last round of elections, just don't remember where.


5 posted on 12/12/2005 10:05:50 AM PST by FEARED MUTATION
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To: areafiftyone
IS JIMMY THERE TO WATCH AND PUT HIS SOCIALIST STAMP OF APPROVAL ON THIS ELECTION? IF NO JIMMY APPROVAL, YOU KNOW IT IS A RIGGED ELECTION!!!!!!
6 posted on 12/12/2005 10:06:03 AM PST by RetiredArmy (I have no faith in any politician or political party any more. They all lie for their agendas.)
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To: areafiftyone

How is the kerry-edwards ticket doing? Any exit polls yet?


7 posted on 12/12/2005 10:09:46 AM PST by InsureAmerica (Evil? I have many words for it. We are as dust, to them. - v v putin)
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To: FEARED MUTATION

I look for one. The Conservative Bloggers are the best when it comes to good news in Iraq!


8 posted on 12/12/2005 10:11:00 AM PST by areafiftyone (Politicians Are Like Diapers, Both Need To Be Changed Often And For The Same Reason!)
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To: InsureAmerica

As soon as Edwards finishes his make-up the exit poll will start!


9 posted on 12/12/2005 10:11:33 AM PST by areafiftyone (Politicians Are Like Diapers, Both Need To Be Changed Often And For The Same Reason!)
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To: areafiftyone

Ha!


10 posted on 12/12/2005 10:13:16 AM PST by InsureAmerica (Evil? I have many words for it. We are as dust, to them. - v v putin)
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To: areafiftyone

The Rats are deeply saddened.


11 posted on 12/12/2005 10:13:20 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: FEARED MUTATION; All
VIDEO FROM GATEWAY PUNDIT MORE IRAQI VOTING NEWS AND TA DA!! PURPLE FINGERS!! WOOO HOOO!

THOUSANDS OF IRAQIS HEAD TO THE POLLS TODAY, EARLY VOTING HAS BEGUN,
VIDEO HERE

300,000 Iraqis voted today, 90,000 from hospitals, 20,000 from prisons

President Bush reminds the world that while the path toward Iraqi democracy has been somewhat rocky, so was the path to American democracy more than 200 years ago.

An Iraqi patient shows his finger tainted with ink as mark for already casting his vote at the Central Yarmouk Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Dec. 12, 2005. Iraqis began voting Monday in hospitals, military camps and prisons, ahead of general elections to be held Dec. 15, while the estimated 1.5 million voters living outside the country can cast their ballots at polling centers in 15 countries. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraq the Model has a terrific piece on how the elections are going so far. More than 20 lists and parties sent hundreds of thousands of messages via cell phones throughout the country. Expected turnout is at 68%!


Iraqi soldiers celebrate after voting in the national election, at Kirkush Military Training Base, 65 km (43 miles) northeast of Baghdad December 12, 2005. Voting began at Iraq's military bases, hospitals and prisons on Monday, with security forces, detainees and the ill kicking off the country's first elections for a full-term parliament since the fall of Saddam Hussein. (REUTERS/Bob Strong)

It was nice to hear President Bush clear up the comparison of Iraqis to "American pioneers" in his speech today that was started when the Left started calling the terrorists "Minute Men".


Members of the Iraqi National Guard show their fingers marked with indelible ink after voting ahead of a historical parliamentary election on Thursday outside their barracks in central Baghdad December 12, 2005. Iraqi security officials are bracing for an increase in violence in the days and weeks after what they believe will be a relatively safe and secure election day, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said on Sunday. Iraq's interim government has begun a huge security operation ahead of Thursday's vote to choose the first full-term government since the fall of Saddam Hussein, with a nationwide 'lockdown' beginning on Wednesday. (REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani)

As President Bush speaks in the cradle of US democracy, Philadelphia, Iraqis head again to the polls. America's ambassador to Iraq says that Sunnis now believe that their needs can be met politically:

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad told CNN that "Sunnis seem to be developing confidence in the political process. They believe that their grievances can be dealt with politically."

Khalilzad add that having Sunnis involved in the government could result in "isolating the terrorists," many of whom are Sunnis, and lead to a reduction in violence in Iraq.

U.S. and Iraqi officials have increasingly said that the insurgency will not be defeated militarily, but through political means.
Pajamas Media points to a poll today from Great Britain that shows that the Iraqis are optimistic about their future. (via Instapundit)

Iraqi soldiers dance after voting in the national election, at Kirkush Military Training Base, 65 km (43 miles) northeast of Baghdad December 12, 2005. (Reuters)

Michelle Malkin has a roundup on todays historic vote from Iraq.

But some Iraqis are not so happy, as Gina Cobb notes.

12 posted on 12/12/2005 10:20:32 AM PST by areafiftyone (Politicians Are Like Diapers, Both Need To Be Changed Often And For The Same Reason!)
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To: areafiftyone

This is awesome. Nothing like this has been this evident for over 200 years ( 1776 ). History in the making.


13 posted on 12/12/2005 10:31:56 AM PST by One Proud Dad
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To: Sacajaweau

Ditto!


14 posted on 12/12/2005 10:35:29 AM PST by areafiftyone (Politicians Are Like Diapers, Both Need To Be Changed Often And For The Same Reason!)
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To: One Proud Dad

but...but... its a quagmire ya know!


15 posted on 12/12/2005 10:35:52 AM PST by areafiftyone (Politicians Are Like Diapers, Both Need To Be Changed Often And For The Same Reason!)
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To: areafiftyone

Great thing to see. Wonderful news for the Iraqis and for us.


16 posted on 12/12/2005 5:51:45 PM PST by mark502inf
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To: areafiftyone

I as a Persian (Iranian), whose country is hijacked by the idiot Mullahs, envy them and their freedom!

FREEDOM FOR IRAN NOW!

:-(


17 posted on 12/13/2005 1:20:13 AM PST by Khashayar (No Banana Allowed!)
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To: Khashayar

Keep the faith and your chin up - If Iraq and Afghanistan can change there is alot of hope for your country. Iran is full of good decent people who want change and they will get it - it takes time but the wheels are turning! :-)


18 posted on 12/13/2005 6:21:04 AM PST by areafiftyone (Politicians Are Like Diapers, Both Need To Be Changed Often And For The Same Reason!)
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To: areafiftyone

I hope so!


19 posted on 12/13/2005 1:10:47 PM PST by Khashayar (No Banana Allowed!)
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