People of Fallujah vote -- Photo Essay

Marine Corps News ^ | Oct 15, 2005 | Staff Sgt. Ronna M. Weyland

[SandRat]

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 15, 2005) -- The streets were quiet as the long awaited day for the referendum began Saturday morning. Vehicle traffic was banned within the city, so the Iraqi police could ensure better security throughout the day.

As the day went on, foot traffic in the predominately Sunni city began to pick up. More and more people were heading to the polls.

“We're seeing grass-roots organizations telling people to vote, not necessarily because it's what they want to do, but because they have to do it,” John Kael Weston, a State Department official in Fallujah said. “They realize that if they don't participate they don't have a lot of other options.”

Local officials and the U.S. ambassador to Iraq met in the Civil-Military Operation Center here to discuss the future of the city still recovering from the battle less than a year ago.

“In order for the political and security system to work you need jobs for people,” said Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, during his first trip to Fallujah. “Iraq is an extremely rich country and God willing it will become great and prosperous again.”

Members of the Fallujah City Council had the opportunity to ask the U.S. ambassador questions and share their concerns.

“We ask you to put pressure on the [Iraqi] government to release the funds for repairs,” said Sheikh Kamal Shawkur, chairman of the city council. “Our people are homeless from their houses being destroyed and people are still living in tents.”

The mayor of Fallujah said he believed the people would show up to vote because it was the right thing to do.

“They realized when they went to the ballot box they held the future of Iraq in their hands,” said Sheikh Dhari Al-Zobaie, city mayor. “I asked them why they came to vote and they said, ‘We want an Iraq for all Iraqis not just one particular group.’ The people are committed to Iraq’s progress and success.”

Before leaving, the ambassador said the people of Fallujah could count on the United States to help get them back on their feet.

“The terrorists want a civil war…that is not a formula for success,” said Khalilzad.

He also added the past is finished. It is gone and it is now time to look to the future of Iraq.

[SandRat]

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 14, 2005) – An Iraqi police officer waves the nation’s flag while others load ballots for the upcoming vote here. The referendum is scheduled to take place tomorrow throughout Iraq. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Josh Cox

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 14, 2005) -- Iraqi Police trucks are staged loaded with voting materials before convoying to the poll sites. The referendum vote will be held tomorrow throughout Iraq. Photo by: Staff Sgt. Ronna M. Weyland

Residents of Fallujah walk near a voting poll during Saturday’s referendum vote in Iraq. Iraqi police were tasked with providing security during the referendum in the city of Fallujah. Photo by: Cpl. Evan M. Eagan

A Marine stands security as Iraqi police trucks drive by in Fallujah during the referendum vote in Iraq. Iraqi police were tasked with providing security during the referendum in the city of Fallujah. Photo by: Cpl. Evan M. Eagan

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 15, 2005) -- Sheikh Dhari Al-Zobaie, mayor of Fallujah, speaks to Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, while the Sheikh Kamal, chairman of the Fallujah City Council and Lt. Col. Patrick Carroll listen during a meeting held here Oct. 15. The meeting marked Khalilzad’s first visit to Fallujah. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Josh Cox

Iraqi policemen move boxes containing voting supplies after the referendum vote Saturday in Iraq. The Iraqi police played a vital role in transporting the ballots to and from the polls, and provided security during the referendum Photo by: Cpl. Evan M. Eagan

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 14, 2005) – Iraqi police officers load boxes containing ballots for the upcoming vote here. The referendum is scheduled to take place tomorrow throughout Iraq. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Josh cox

A Marine observes the street below his post in Fallujah, Iraq during the referendum Oct. 15, 2005. All public vehicle traffic had been banned on the streets within the city Saturday. Photo by: Staff Sgt. Ronna M. Weyland

Binders holding registered voters names from the city of Fallujah are stacked on a pallet waiting to be distributed to various poll sites. Photo by: Staff Sgt. Ronna M. Weyland

[SandRat]

Iraq Success PING

[PatriotGirl827]

Great pics! Thank you, again.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Fallujah City Council? Can't be! You can't have a city council amidst a quagmire. I wonder how many Libs are on the Fallujah city council? And how come Michael Moore isn't filming this? And where is Cindy Al Sheehani decrying our involvement and telling the Irais " See. See! My son died in vain."?

[luvie]

Praise the Lord! The DUmmies have been foiled again! BWAAHAAHAA!! Success happened!

[hsalaw]

"Iraqi police were tasked with providing security during the referendum in the city of Fallujah."

AND it sounds like they did a good job. Great news.

[gaspar]

Fallujah voted 95% against the Constitution.

[Huck]

We should have bombed Fallujah into dust.

[Chieftain]

And where is Cindy Al Sheehani decrying our involvement and telling the Iraqis " See. See! My son died in vain."?

Yeah, where ya at, Cindy???? I can't HEAR YOU!!

[nralife]

Yea, but I heard on the news somewhere, that something like 97% in the area in and around Fallujah voted against the new constitution. Hope that isn't true

[SandRat]

The important part is that they voted freely and openly.

[Coffee_drinker]

Fallujah voted 95% against the Constitution.

Yes a Heavy Sunni population. They should have realized long ago to get involved in drafting it. Now they are reaping their rewards...

[Common Tator]

Fallujah voted 95% against the Constitution.

There were many areas of the 13 American States that were opposed to our constitution.

On September 17, 1787, the Constitution of the United Sates was completed in Philadelphia, and the new government it prescribed came into existence on March 4, 1789, after fierce fights over ratification in many of the states.

It is worth noting that our citizens were not allowed to vote on the ratification of our constitution That was done by state governments.

I can't understand why the Iraqis are giving their citizens more rights than our founding fathers gave us. Our voters did not get to vote on the ratification of our constitution, it was only the politicians that ratified the United States constitution.

If the politicians had given the voters in the thirteen staes the right to adopt or reject our constitution it is very likely it would have been rejected.

Iraq has not had the luxury of making political deals among politicians. Unlike us they gave ordinary citizens the right to decide.. and even allowed ordinary citizens to vote against the constitution.. That was something our citizens did not get the right to do.

[SandRat]

The important part is that they voted freely and openly and had a choice.

[dead]

It's great news, for most:

[andyandval]

Fallujah voted 95% against the Constitution.

57,000,000 Americans voted for John Kerry.

[texianyankee]

Fallujah voted 95% against the Constitution.

"There were many areas of the 13 American States that were opposed to our constitution."

Yes and it took 12 years for us to approve our Constitution, too. The important thing is that the citizens of Fallujah voted their voice & from what I know, it was relatively violence-free.

[andyandval]

LOL

"The real test will be held in December...."

[Calpernia]

“They realized when they went to the ballot box they held the future of Iraq in their hands,” said Sheikh Dhari Al-Zobaie, city mayor. “I asked them why they came to vote and they said, ‘We want an Iraq for all Iraqis not just one particular group.’ The people are committed to Iraq’s progress and success.”

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!