Hold on to what is good even if it is a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe even if it is a tree which stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do even if it is a long way from here.
Hold on to life even when it is easier letting go.
Hold on to my hand even when I have gone away from you.
- Pueblo Blessing
�
Sunday, Feb. 06, 2005 - 3:27 a.m.
WARNING!!!! if you know me personally, you may read my diary, but if you do, you take the chance of hearing things you don't want to know, misunderstanding what I've written and being hurt by it. If you are unsure if it is ok to read, save yourself and me the grief and heartache, and ask first!!! Please note that this is a DIARY, ie my subjective feelings, hearsay, suppositions, and outpourings of ranting of the moment. It does not represent objective news, the whole of what I think of a topic or someone, or even a thought-out representation of any of the above. Keep that in mind. Thanks. * Here is a Diary Etiquette Read Me.
History Repeats Itself
U.S. Encouraged by Iraq Vote :
Officials Cite 83% Turnout Despite Al Quaeda TerrorWASHINGTON, Feb. 3-- United States officials were surprised and heartened today at the size of turnout in Iraq's presidential election despite a terrorist campaign to disrupt the voting.
According to reports from Bagdhad, 83 per cent of the 5.85 million registered voters cast their ballots yesterday. Many of them risked reprisals threatened by the insurgents.
The size of the popular vote and the inability of the terrorists to destroy the election machinery were the two salient facts in a preliminary assessment of the nation election based on the incomplete returns reaching here.
Pending more detailed reports, neither the State Department nor the White House would comment on the balloting or the victory of the candidates.
A successful election has long been seen as the keystone in President Bush's policy of encouraging the growth of constitutional processes in Iraq. The election was the culmination of a constitutional development that began in April, 2002, to which President Bush gave his personal commitment
The purpose of the voting was to give legitimacy to the interrim Government, which has been founded only on coups and power plays since April, 2002, when Saddam Hussein was overthrown by the coalition of the willing.
Few members of his party are still around, most having been ousted or exiled in subsequent shifts of power.
Significance Not Diminished
The fact that the backing of the electorate has gone to the Shiites who have been not been ruling Iraq for the last two years does not, in the Administration's view, diminish the significance of the constitutional step that has been taken.
The hope here is that the new government will be able to maneuver with a confidence and legitimacy long lacking in Iraqi politics. That hope could have been dashed either by a small turnout, indicating widespread scorn or a lack of interest in constitutional development, or by the terrorists' disruption of the balloting.
American officials had hoped for an 80 per cent turnout. That was the figure in the election in September for the Constituent Assembly. Seventy-eight per cent of the registered voters went to the polls in elections for local officials last spring.
Before the results of the election started to come in, the American officials warned that the turnout might be less than 80 per cent because the polling places would be targets for terrorist attacks. The turnout of 83 per cent was a welcome surprise. The turnout in the 2000 United States Presidential election was 62 per cent.
Captured documents and interrogations indicated in the last week a serious concern among Al Quaeda leaders that a major effort would be required to render the election meaningless. This effort has not succeeded, judging from the reports from Baghdad.
Well, that is really good. I'm glad that I am wrong, the US will pull out soon, democracy has been installed in the Middle East. The war will be over and the terrorism will decline now that Bush has been proven that democracy will not back down. I predict it will all be over within a year.
Or is that true. Have we seen anything like this before in history? Well, just take a look at this story from 1967, and tell me if you see any similarities. Also, tell me if you see anything fishy with the above quoted article.
Thanks.
cheers,
wenchie
ps, I call that fair use for sake of satire.
2 People have left cute, callous or caring comments on the wench's wordiness!!
Leave yours too!!
Go to "notes" instead of comments
ps, you'll need to email me for a username and password
�
previous meanderings - future past
Goodbye Michael. May your next life be kinder to you. - Thursday, Jun. 25, 2009
Taking Care of Your Cows - Thursday, Jun. 25, 2009
Saint Joseph robs the cradle and eats spaghetti - Sunday, Jun. 14, 2009
sticky notes and broken irises - Friday, Jun. 12, 2009
The FOODCOMMANDER - Monday, Jun. 08, 2009
�
