Posted on 01/30/2005 8:25:21 AM PST by BenLurkin
WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the Iraqi elections are "going better than expected" Sunday, despite conflicting reports about the extent of voter turnout in areas plagued by intimidation and violence.
"Every indication is that the election in Iraq is going better than expected," Rice said on ABC's "This Week."
President Bush, meanwhile, did not respond to reporters' questions about the Iraqi elections as he left services at the Episcopalian church he regularly attends a block from the White House. Churchgoers mentioned the Iraq elections in their weekly prayers.
Rice praised the bravery of Iraqi voters and acknowledged "there are going to be many, many difficult days ahead."
(AP) Gen. John Abizaid, chief of U.S. Central Command, left, chairman of the Senate Armed Services... Full Image
"What we are seeing here is the emergence of an Iraqi voice of freedom," Rice said in the first response to the election from the Bush administration.
"No, it's not a perfect election," Rice conceded, but she called it a positive development no one had foreseen three years ago when Saddam Hussein was still the dictator of Iraq.
Rice spoke Sunday morning less than an hour before the Iraqi poll closing.
The Bush administration has a big stake in the election's success.
Bush gave up his usual weekend getaway at the Camp David presidential retreat to remain at the White House to monitor the results and the violence as Iraqis held their nation's first free election in a half-century.
(AP) Senate Armed Services Committee chariman Sen. John Warner, R-Va., right, looks on as Secretary of... Full Image
Across Iraq insurgents were making good on promises of violence with deadly suicide bombings and mortar strikes on polling stations.
Still, after a slow start, men and women - many holding babies - formed long lines at some polling stations and officials said turnout appeared higher than expected, although it was too soon to tell for sure.
In some parts of the country, however, the streets and polling places were virtually deserted.
On Saturday, just hours before polling stations were to open, a rocket hit the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, killing at least two Americans and wounding several others.
"The terrorists will stop at nothing to try to disrupt this election, yet, in the face of intimidation, the Iraqi people are standing firm," White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said.
The White House was keenly watching the Iraqi election because it could affect U.S. military action there and sap Bush's political strength if the balloting doesn't lead to stability.
Bush had sought to declare victory before the polls even opened by arguing that just the fact that Iraqis are voting means success.
If the Iraqi elections lead to a stable government and open the way to a phased American troop withdrawal, Bush's image around the world would be buoyed. Republicans on the ballot in 2006 and 2008 also would be relieved. On the other hand, problems with the election could complicate Bush's efforts to pass costly items on his second-term domestic agenda, such as partially privatizing Social Security.
The Bush administration is convinced that most Iraqis support the election and that a large number will participate. Turnout will vary, depending on security in each Iraqi province, but administration officials believe the overall election will be legitimate.
Conceded?
As if something less then perfection would mean the election was somehow tainted and therefore not acceptable?
No election is perfect and no one expects this one to be.
And then, suddenly, the US had another ally in the War on Terror, and had one of the Axis of Terror members basically surrounded. Plus...
Arab Kingdoms Fear Iraqi Elections Force them to Follow Suit
Arutz Sheva ^ | Jan 30, '05
Posted on 01/30/2005 7:41:22 AM PST by Nate1984
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1331882/posts
I love it!
Actually, that's an example of a journalistic no-no. Journalists are supposed to use the word "said" uniformly, instead of picking other words that have positive or negative connotations.
Thanks. But I did recognize that. However, rather then a "no-no", I would say it was an example of a journalistic bias.
Yes, you recognized it as an example of bias.
I recognized it as a violation of a rule journalists follow (it's actually in their handbooks). The point of that rule is to prevent bias, like in this case, when charged words can be used to make an individual's speech look good or bad.
Not everything journalists do to be biased actually breaks their own rules (for instance: downplaying the importance of things they don't like can't be covered by a rule because judging importance of things is somewhat subjective). So when journos actually break their own rules just to get a little bit more bias into their articles, it's interesting.
We support Condi. She's gonna do great.
Yes, Dr Rice did very well, especially when Jennings questioned her from Iraq. I must confess, as a male observer, who not only listened to her every word and watched her body language, the boots she was wearing with that outfit were absolutely smashing! Seriously. And, there's much more to it than just fashion.
Throughout the interview on ABC's "This Week" there were a few wide shots and those shiny, black boots she wore not only looked fashionably trendy, but certainly gave the impression of someone who's in complete control of her facts and, ultimately, of who she is and represents.
I probably wouldn't give a hoot how anyone else dresses, but as a student of the art of communication and a fan of Dr Rice, I've gotta write that she looked absolutely super (eg, rested, in charge), sounded great and will do this country proud as Sec of State. No doubt.
Throughout the interview on ABC's "This Week" there were a few wide shots and those shiny, black boots she wore not only looked fashionably trendy, but certainly gave the impression of someone who's in complete control of her facts and, ultimately, of who she is and represents.
Pictures show pictures ...
Well, I wish I would have seen it all. Thank you for the description. Yes, she is a confident woman who knows what she wants and gets it and knows what it is she wants to do in her new position and ... will do it. That's our Condi! :)
Promptly I ordered a TV tuner card for my PC (should arrive in the next several days), allowing me to record TV video and stills to CD, as JPEGS, etc. That technology is handy for TV's greatest moments, such as the one witnessed by the lucky who caught Dr Rice on ABC's This Week :)
According to CBS exit polls, Osama bin Kerry was winning.
Hmmmm, never heard of that but maybe we will check into it. Would be nice to see the things we miss on TV...especially the good ones like Condi. Thank you for the information.
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