[GraniteStateConservative]

I'll take the devil we know in Allawi. I hope he pulls this out.

[adam_az]

Interesting that he doesn't think that Chalabi is even a player in this.

[demlosers]

As long as they stick to a Constitution that espouses the virtues of a free democracy, Iraq's democratic future looks bright.

[1LongTimeLurker]

It's either Allawi or a guy in bed with Iran.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

The biggest mistake made by the secular parties, e.g. the former Communists, Sharistani and the royalists, the new list formed by the former Sunni president, etc., etc..., was not coalescing into a solid, viable political bloc.

To think that any one of these parties, alone, was going to have a significant impact on the election was sheer folly.

[demlosers]

HOW IRAQ VOTED

During Iraq's elections Jan. 30, 58% of eligible voters turned out to choose among 111 slates. Turnout was high in the peaceful Kurdish north and Shiite south. But voters were reluctant to go to the polls in predominantly Sunni central Iraq and in Mosul, where insurgent violence has been intense. In Anbar province, home to the insurgent strongholds of Fallujah and Ramadi, only 2% voted. The Independent Electoral Commission released turnout statistics on Tuesday for Iraq's 18 provinces:
Province	Eligible voters	Number of votes	Turnout
Anbar	574,138	13,893	2%
Babil	694,192	507,153	73%
Baghdad	3,664, 922	1,887,010	51%
Basra	1,035,055	748,967	72%
Dahuk	429,182	396,824	92%
Diyala	624,099	206,529	33%
Erbil	795, 291	666,362	84%
Karbala	409,081	305,798	75%
Missan	417,273	255,584	61%
Muthanna	295,326	191,336	65%
Najaf	493,808	371,615	75%
Ninevah	1,197,940	203,198	17%
Salah al-Din	498,017	145,656	29%
Sulaimaniyah	914,441	750,837	82%
Tamim	576,048	403,286	70%
Thi-Qar	778,574	535,991	69%
Qadissiya	486,827	344,316	71%
Wassit	494,955	351,801	71%
Total	14,379,169	8,286,156	58%
Does not include votes from overseas.
Source: Iraqi Ministry of Trade

[Josef1235]

He mean traditional liberals as in Republicans or "liberals" as in Christine Gregoire, Gray Davis, Rep. Tubbs, Hillary Clinton, etcetera?

[Southern Federalist]

A little realism about al-Jaafari and sharia.

Al-Jaafari and his party cannot turn Iraq into an Islamic state, even if they want to, if they play by the rules. His base of support is not just his own party, but the whole Shiite coalition, most of which is opposed to anything that even smells like Iran. Plus the Shiites don't have a majority anyway, plus there is the three-province veto provision. In addition, the Kurdish parties and others are going to be smelling the new Constitution very closely for even any potential opportunities for openings towards Islamism.

Now the US is going to be in Iraq in force through the whole Constitution writing process at the very least, that is, through the next election, so there will be no opportunity for coup d'etat, which would be the only way of achieving an Islamic state. Al-Jaafari will have to play by the rules.

Our people are probably encouraging Allawi, but I hope they aren't heavy-handed about it. If it doesn't look too much like a US-manipulated ploy, Allawi's getting in on the act will be a good thing, because with real opposition, al-Jaafari will have to make promises and accept conditions that will paint him into a tighter corner than he's already in. It's a game called politics, and everything that gets Iraqis playing it is to our advantage.