A True Story About the Iraqi Overseas Elections and Freeper Activism

Saturday, January 29, 2005 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

File thus under: It ain't braggin' if it's true.

Back in October, the D.C. Chapter of Free Republic staged a rally for our Iraqi friends in Lafayette Park in front of the White House.

The rally, held on October 25, was hastily put together in two weeks because the Iraqis wanted to send a message of support for President Bush before the U.S. election on November 2.

About 30 Iraqis along with a dozen Freepers attended the rally. The media turnout was mixed. Local Washington area media ignored the rally, but NBC, CNN, Fox News Channel, Al Hurra and Al Arybia (sp) all sent camera crews.

The American networks were interested in covering former Rep. Bob Dornan. However, Mr. Dornan had a family medical emergency that morning and ended up arriving after the rally had ended.

The camera crews stayed for the duration of the rally. We started it late, in hopes that some late arriving Iraqis might show, and ended it early when they didn't. The camera crews were very understanding and didn't complain.

Once we got under way, the rally went really well. We had a mix of Iraqi and American speakers. The Iraqis spoke very passionately in Arabic. Even though we couldn't understand the words, their anger at the terrorists and their gratefulness to America and President Bush needed no translating.

In the small crowd, Iraqi families held signs in English and Arabic expressing their thanks to President Bush for liberating their country.

We ended the rally an hour earlier than scheduled because of the low attendance. Mr. Dornan showed up after that, but he stayed for a long time listening to the Iraqis as they informed him about conditions in Iraq and problems here in some of the programs targeting Iraq.

Afterward, we felt like the rally hadn't been as successful as it could have been. The American media didn't report on it, and it didn't seem to get much play overseas.

But then, something happened. The Arab language networks showed the rally in Iraq. Requests were made for copies of the rally and soon a hand held camera version of the rally was being distributed on the Internet among Iraqis online.

What was said at the rally struck a chord with many Iraqis, such that the rally came to the attention of the highest levels of government there. One thing that caught their attention was the call by our friend Nofel Al-jazairi for the inclusion of Iraqi exiles in the upcoming Iraqi elections. After the rally, the government decided to establish the overseas voting program for the Iraqi exiles. Confirmation of this came in a PalTalk session last week.

A current candidate who used to be a spokesman for Prime Minister Allawi was complaining about the low turnout in the overseas elections. He said, "because of that rally in front of the White House, we spent $90 million dollars" on the overseas elections.

While the turnout has been low, it is alot better than it would have been had there been no program at all. The group handling the elections did the best they could with only two months to do it.

I went to the polling place in New Carrolton, Maryland with our friend Nofel today to witness him voting in his first free Iraqi election. There were hundreds of Iraqis waiting in line to vote. Many of them had brought their families, even though the children could not vote.

It was quite emotional when Nofel emerged from the building with his index finger dyed purple. It was a dream come true for him, and so many others.

An election worker told me a story about one voter. Yesterday, an Iraqi man stood before the ballot box and held his completed ballot in the air. He said, in a loud voice in Arabic, as he thrust his ballot in the box, "F--- Saddam! F--- Bin laden! F--- Zarqawi! F--- the terrorists!"

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

"We never know what will transpire as a result of our actions. The only thing we're sure of is if we do nothing, then nothing will change."

Kristinn, you planted your seed of faith and backed it up with action and the harvest was...30,60, 100FOLD.

Amen

[sionnsar]

Great story, kristinn!!! Little things can make such a difference.

Last summer I happened to be attending a meeting just outside DC on a day when a pro-Iran freedom rally was scheduled. Before I'd left I'd looked at the train schedules and realized I could make the rally. An Iranian friend gave me a Sun&Lion flag (NOT the flag of the mullahs!) to take so I could show American support.

Sadly, two trains in a row broke down, delaying me by hours. When I got there, it was long since over. All I have is this -- and I had to explain to the woman to whom I'd handed my cellphone to take this picture what it was all about.

[sionnsar]

(oops) ping

[vivabushchick]

Tears of joy for your friend Nofel Al-jazairi. Appropriate response by the expatriate voter that even the FCC couldn't argue with!!

[vivabushchick]

"There is only one force of history that can break the reign of hatred and resentment, and expose the pretensions of tyrants, and reward the hopes of the decent and tolerant, and that is the force of human freedom."
George Bush, 2005 Inaugural Address.

[isthisnickcool]

What's you name little mister! Don't you know who I am!!!!

In related news former Senator Bob Kerry has sold the rights to his forehead to the Heinz company. "It's HUGE" said a Heinz spokesman. Details of the deal were not disclosed but insiders say it involved several cases of ketchup and a jug of Teresa Heinz's famous raisin and gin elixir.

Carlos Mendoza of Mendoza's Airbrushing was awarded the contract to put the Heinz name on Mr. Kerrey's forehead. Mr. Mendoza was heard to say "Hey homes! They hired us because we are Mexican and Teresa could pay cash. I tell you one thing. That Senator dudes head is mucho grande. It took a gallon of paint! What was really weird was that the dudes head is hollow man! I bumped it with the airbrush rig and it made a weird echo sound. His head was so big that I wanted to add some flames but they would not let me!"

[Mr. Silverback]

On Monday, I took a marker and painted my index finger purple before I left the house. I had a big grin on my face all day.

And to think Free Republic was knee deep in it like this...great show, DC chapter!

[lentulusgracchus]

Concurring thunder-bump. Eagles are screaming in the Rockies 'coz kristinn did good.

[lentulusgracchus]

Kristinn, you planted your seed of faith and backed it up with action and the harvest was...30,60, 100FOLD.

I agree -- and I think someone up at the White House needs to look into this.

I think the DC chapter of FR ought to get invited to lunch at the White House, because of what they did. They went out of their way, on their own time, to do something that had repercussions halfway around the world.

We sent an army into a part of the world that has been ruled by despots and divine kings for 50 centuries. It's been that long since, the Cambridge Ancient History tells us, the democratic city-states of Sumeria were overreached by army champions who made themselves kings, and then divine kings. Fifty centuries. And now we have humiliated despotism and its pretensions in the place where it first grew up -- in its crib -- and restored freedom to the people of Mesopotamia that they haven't enjoyed since the beginning of the Bronze Age.

And our DC FReepers played a part in that. Well done!

[Common Tator]

There was a time when only media coverage.. and only media coverage by AP or one of the world wide news services could get a message around the world. What kristinn has proved is the Internet can be far more powerful than even the big news services.

Had kristinn's rally been given play by Reuters or AP, then the result may have been much different.

Free Republic is a forum.. It is not an overly organized or controlled forum. It is a place that offers so many of us a way to make OUR voices heard. And there are many voices with many opinions on the same issues.

It is likely hard for left to understand that there was no directive to kristinn telling him to do what he did. There was no directive to Buckhead telling him to expose Dan Rather. There was no order given for Dog to point out that one of the terrorists threats was to kill a toy.

Free Republic .. is a vehicles in which ordinary citizens can make a difference that is felt around the world. Free Republic is made up of free people exercising their freedom.

Congratulation kristinn .. You not only made a difference this time, you are a dedicated servant of our nation and a roll model for many of us. From the earliest days of the Clinton scandal you have made a difference for so many people.

Keep up the good work. Lots of us respect your dedication and integrity ...and we owe you our gratitude.

Thanks

[GOPJ]

It's bread on the water, kristinn. Great job.

[LtKerst]

"F--- Saddam! F--- Bin laden! F--- Zarqawi! F--- the terrorists!"

He Forgot..."F--- CBS" and "F-Chirac"!!!

[Patriot1]

You D.C. Freepers are terrific! Your diligence in fighting for our just causes is truly impressive.

[victim soul]

thanks Kristinn .. you are inspiration to us all.

God bless the Iraqi people ... may they live long and prosper.

God bless our troops for their sacrifice and their patience with their own home grown traitors in the media and the U.S. Congress.

[B-Cause]

Bump

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The Hug Heard Around the World! - Thank You Mr. & Mrs. Norwood

[KC Burke]

I understand from your comments that the cost of the Registration and Polling held in the US (and elsewhere abroad from Iraqi soil) was paid for by the Iraqi Interim Government.

While the coverage of these polling places in the US was fairly extensive and of positive effect, I don't know that I ever saw them mention that the cost was paid for by Iraq. It somehow makes it an even more sterling effort.

[TChris]

Dittos! Excellent work, kristinn! God bless you.

[BobS]

"He said, in a loud voice in Arabic, as he thrust his ballot in the box, "F--- Saddam! F--- Bin laden! F--- Zarqawi! F--- the terrorists!""

How do you say F--- in Arabic?

I can do it in a half-dozen languages so far. I like being multilingual:)

[newslady]

Great job, Kristinn. Freepers rule!

[Rakkasan1]

it's the butterfly effect.

you're the ripple in a pond...

the journey of a thousand miles begins with a first step...

I'm running out of cliches and metaphors, but seriously,
nice work.