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Bush's Efforts in Iraq Succeeding, Israeli Analysts Say
CNS News ^ | December 16, 2005 | Julie Stahl

Posted on 12/17/2005 9:59:28 AM PST by West Coast Conservative

Democracy is slowly taking hold in Iraq and the insurgency is losing its Sunni support-base in Iraq, analysts here said on Friday.

They spoke after some 11 million of Iraq's 15 million registered voters cast ballots on Thursday for a 275-seat parliament, a governing body called the Council of Representatives.

Voter turnout on Thursday was about 70 percent, compared with 63 percent in October's referendum on a draft constitution and 58 percent in elections last January.

"Basically the U.S. efforts are working and progress is being made, which doesn't mean there aren't problems," said Prof. Barry Rubin, an analyst with the GLORIA Center at the Interdisciplinary Center near Tel Aviv.

"The turnout is good because [it means] people think they're going to win. Intimidation isn't working. It shows that people want [democracy]," said Rubin.

President Bush, who referred to Thursday's election as a "watershed," has given a series of speeches this month, defending his Iraq war strategy against criticism from Democrats, who say he has no plan for victory and complain that he "misled" the country into war.

"The problem is the debate in the U.S. has very little to do with Iraq," said Rubin.

Prior to the election, five militant groups decried the election as a "satanic project" that violated "the legitimate policy approved by God." But given greater Sunni participation this time around, the insurgents did not threaten to attack voting stations as they have done in previous polls.

"The success is that the terrorist organizations failed to torpedo the elections," said Dr. Michael Eppel from Haifa University.

Some of the most extremist Shiites agreed to "play the political game," said Eppel. The most important achievement is the participation of the Sunni Arabs - the mainstay of the insurgency, he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Israel; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bush; democracy; election; iraq; iraqvictory; military; progress; success; terrorism; wariniraq

1 posted on 12/17/2005 9:59:29 AM PST by West Coast Conservative
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To: West Coast Conservative

Who are you going to believe?
Me, or the Zionist Entity?


2 posted on 12/17/2005 10:02:16 AM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: billorites

well, how about that . . .

a soldier's view from another post---

http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/JY8xs3uG



3 posted on 12/17/2005 10:04:37 AM PST by wouldntbprudent
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To: billorites

Joan Baez is saddened.


4 posted on 12/17/2005 10:05:08 AM PST by Rocko (this post kills fascists...and communists)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Dont tell Fat Ted this, he will be so upset he wont sober up for a week.

Well:on second thought: he wont sober up in this lifetime anyway so go ahead and send it to him.


5 posted on 12/17/2005 10:07:34 AM PST by sgtbono2002
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To: West Coast Conservative

Aren't the "Jewwwwwwwwwwwwws" part of Bush's Far Right Wing Judeo-Christian Neocon Blood-for-Oil Imperial conspiracy anyway?


6 posted on 12/17/2005 10:12:37 AM PST by DTogo (Merry CHRISTmas, and a healthy & happy New Year!)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Just how many more meltdowns can the Rats handle?


7 posted on 12/17/2005 10:14:01 AM PST by rickmichaels
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To: DTogo

We all know it's true. Noam Chomsky says so. :')


8 posted on 12/17/2005 10:15:04 AM PST by Rocko (this post kills fascists...and communists)
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To: Temple Owl

ping


9 posted on 12/17/2005 10:21:16 AM PST by Tribune7
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To: sgtbono2002
Dont tell Fat Ted this, he will be so upset he wont sober up for a week.

He hasn't drawn a sober breath since he drowned Mary Jo Kopechne.

10 posted on 12/17/2005 6:31:15 PM PST by Temple Owl (uqu)
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