Posted on 03/08/2010 8:59:56 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Turnout in yesterday's parliamentary election in Iraq reached 62.4 per cent despite a concerted effort to intimidate voters and scare them away from polling stations.
Hamdiyah al-Husseini, a senior official with the Independent High Electoral Commission, released the figure at a press conference in Baghdad. The figure is lower than the 76 per cent turnout for the the parliamentary election of December 2005 but higher than last year's provincial elections when just over half of voters cast ballots.
Turnout is an important measure of success for the election. To be credible and effective, Iraq's next government will need the backing of a large number of people in the deeply divided country.
The election was marred by violence - although less than was initially reported, according to the American military. Al-Qaeda is said to have fooled the Iraqi government and millions of voters into believing they were under attack from sustained mortar fire.
Instead insurgent cells apparently planted drinks bottles filled with C4 in rubbish bins around the city and set them off in series with the help of mobile phone triggers. The mortar-like sound of explosions was meant to frighten Iraqis into staying home.
For several hours yesterday morning, loud explosions could be heard across Baghdad in quick succession. General Ray Odierno, the top US commander, said most of these were caused by "bottle bombs".
Two houses were blown up with large bombs planted inside, causing all 38 reported fatalities. But there were no car bombs, suicide bombers, mortars or rockets, the general said.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
I'm on a break in the US now, but just about ready to go back to Iraq.
I heard from many of my friends there. The days leading up to the election were bumpy and there was even incoming on some of the bigger bases (a rarity these days), but everyone reports that Election Day itself wasn't so bad. All of my Iraqi friends got out and voted and had no problems.
I'll be interested to see what the results look like, now that they're starting to vote with their heads instead of their hearts as they did the first time around.
Iraq is growing into their new democracy and the progress has been amazing.
Iraq's Remarkable Election - The strategic benefits of an emerging Middle East democracy.
What’s your take on all those “Buy Dinar” websites and their claims?
The NY Times doesn’t approve of Muslims leaving the Collectivist Reservation just as their unabiding hatred of Black Conservatives.
I trust Aljazeera.net more than the NYTs crowd, compare teh reporting of the Iraqi Elections between Aljazeera and the NYTimes for an idea of how far the NYTimes as gone off the farm!
Very interesting.
Wonder if the press left the Hotels...?
Our lazy, uncurious, liberal press makes it possible for terrorists to create the impression that violence ruled the day using nothing more than the equivalent of some cherry bombs. I wonder if they'll even bother to report that they were faked.
I've never been real sure about that. I bought a conservative amount of dinar in Baghdad back in '04, (1.2M ID for about $650) but haven't bought any since. It may yield, but Iraq also may change its currency, rendering it worthless.
I have friends who bought a lot more than that, citing the significant value jump in Kuwaiti Dinar in the early 90s.
I'm not a good speculator....I guess I'll just wait and see. :)
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