At last, some positive news about the prospects for the elections. The support for Sistani is particularly encouraging. Of course, security is a huge issue; and it’s a little alarming to see that they are contemplating allowing voting in towns controlled by the insurgents. Whether the Iraqi security police can control the election sites is also dubious. But better to press on than give up. The election itself is a form of security. One reason the transition has been so rocky is the lack of legitimacy. Only elections can provide that. In equally encouraging news, we find:
Despite the current strife, about two-thirds of Iraqis do not believe civil war is imminent, the poll found. Asked if their households had been hurt by violence, injuries, death or monetary loss over the past year, only 22 percent of those questioned said yes — a figure that surprised pollsters and U.S. officials.
Desire to vote in the elections also seems very high – another good sign. Of course, the source of the electoral optimism is the U.N. So beware. And the maturation of the insurgency – both financially and in organizational terms – is worrying. There’s also the distinct possibility of religious extremist parties winning the election. What if we get a popularly elected Jihadist government, allied closely with Iran? Gulp.
BTW: If you feel as helpless as I do and still want to help, why not contribute to the Iraq Democracy Project? They need us in the fight against terrorism. And we need them.
The Dish 