Detainees Cast First Constitution Ballots; Saddam Does Not Vote

Fox New / AP ^ | 2005-10-13 | FoxNews/AP unattributed

[Boundless]

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein (search) was not among the Iraqi detainees who cast ballots Thursday on the proposed Iraqi constitution, as U.S. and Iraqi forces stepped up security across the country to impede insurgent attacks aimed at derailing Saturday's referendum.

Non-convicted detainees, including Saddam, whose trial is set to begin Oct. 19, were allowed to cast votes Thursday but the former leader was not among those voting, Judge Nadham Farhan of the Iraqi Special Tribunal told FOX News. The reason for his abstaining was not immediately known.

The rest of Iraq was scheduled to vote on Saturday, ...

[Boundless]

I found this story while answering a question in
another thread. Apparently, only Fox is carried it,
which is not surprising, since it doesn't fit the
Legacy Media template. And it is 4-day-old news now.

A couple of observations:

1. It was brilliant of the new Iraqi government to
allow the detainees to vote. It was a real slap in the
face to the perps' violent efforts to prevent this
vote from ever happening, and it's an invitation to
them to lay down arms and join the new society when
they are released (as most will be eventually).

2. Of course Saddam abstained. To vote at all would
have acknowleged the legitimacy of the new government.
And to vote for or against would likely send messages
that would encourage the population to laugh at him,
as well as being an unpredictable effort at biasing
the election - failed reverse psychology, etc.

And letting Saddam vote before the general populace
meant that his decision would influence the polling.

He voted that he is now irrelevant.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Those evil republicans! They've disenfranchised Saddam!

[catbertz]

An excellent choice to let them vote. I'm hopeful for the people of Iraq, that the constitution will be approved, and that democracy will flourish in this tough neighborhood.

[Valin]

What's wrost they KILLED his two sons, and have taken away his only source of income and left him a pennyless ward of the state.