Election Day for Iraqis

[Shade Everdark]

Iraqis head to the polls

[odims_sphere]

I'm glad that I'm not over there any more. The last time they had elections we got the hell shelled out of us for the entire month prior. 411 rocket and morter attacks in 21 days...

[Wounds Within]

Finally the Iraq election. I have a very good feeling about this. Even the violent groups in the middle east are backing off so the elections will be peaceful. In fact fact it was so peaceful that the turnout was apparently so heavy across the country that election officials kept the polls open for an extra hour to accommodate Iraqis exercising their democratic rights.

I do think however that whom ever is elected will need around the clock security as I am sure he would be a target for a very long time and it could turn out to a horrible outcome in the end. I will keep my fingers crossed.

[The_Dark]

I do think however that whom ever is elected will need around the clock security as I am sure he would be a target for a very long time

You mean like every other world leader?

I have good thoughts and feelings about all this, but I was for this happening from the beggining.

[phee]

You mean like every other world leader?

I have good thoughts and feelings about all this, but I was for this happening from the beggining.

Yup....

[The_Dark]

BTW: the main reason the turnout is so high is because Zarqawi had the... I don't remember his title.. but he was the head Sunni cleric in Iraq, anyway... Zarqawi had him assasinated. The Sunnis boycotted the last election... in response to Al-Quada killing thier Holy Man, the other Sunni Clerics urged all Sunnis to go to the polls and vote. To show defiance to Zarqawi and Al-Quada.

[phee]

Again... Yup

[Wounds Within]

Well over in this area of the world it is much more violent then others, that was all I was tring to say. You don't see the prime minister of Canada walking around with security becasue there is very little need for it while Bush needs all the security he can gather simply because 80% of the world would pay money to see him go down.

As stated by CNN, there is a concern of the people's reaction over who would win and who does not. I believe there are over 100 people running for the same offices and some officals worry if violence will break out with one winning the election over another. It is very possible.

[Wounds Within]

BTW: the main reason the turnout is so high is because Zarqawi had the... I don't remember his title.. but he was the head Sunni cleric in Iraq, anyway... Zarqawi had him assasinated. The Sunnis boycotted the last election... in response to Al-Quada killing thier Holy Man, the other Sunni Clerics urged all Sunnis to go to the polls and vote. To show defiance to Zarqawi and Al-Quada.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That is very true as well.

[EvilDivaEva]

Well over in this area of the world it is much more violent then others, that was all I was tring to say. You don't see the prime minister of Canada walking around with security becasue there is very little need for it while Bush needs all the security he can gather simply because 80% of the world would pay money to see him go down.

As stated by CNN, there is a concern of the people's reaction over who would win and who does not. I believe there are over 100 people running for the same office and some officals worry if violence will break out with one winning the election over another. It is very possible.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That is a good point and that has beena concern from some time. They were saying that the top 3 could be in some danger, but the security is going to be beefed up for them for some time. (USA forces mostly of course will be doing this)

[Wounds Within]

They were saying that the top 3 could be in some danger, but the security is going to be beefed up for them for some time. (USA forces mostly of course will be doing this)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I didn't hear anything about that, but reading what you have stated this doesn't surprise me. The US pretty much has to since they have been pushing for this very election for years. The Bush administration is depending on it as the world is watching. Errrrr I hate talking about politics.

[The_Dark]

Well over in this area of the world it is much more violent then others, that was all I was tring to say. You don't see the prime minister of Canada walking around with security becasue there is very little need for it while Bush needs all the security he can gather simply because 80% of the world would pay money to see him go down.

As stated by CNN, there is a concern of the people's reaction over who would win and who does not. I believe there are over 100 people running for the same office and some officals worry if violence will break out with one winning the election over another. It is very possible.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually you do see the Prime Minister of Canada walking around with security forces. Do you think President Bush is the first US President that uses the Secret Service? That he is the first that is/was hated by people around the world? ALL world leaders have some form of security force that goes with them every where, all the time. Think about it... JFK... the greatest Democrat (he was a conservative btw) to ever hold the office... Loved by everyone (except the USSR and thier allys) shot dead... We normally only notice the security forces when they are jumping on a bomb or into the path of a bullet.

Just so you know... there are 7,655 candidates representing 307 political groups. They are trying to fill a 275 member parliament. After they are chosen, they vote on a Prime Minister.. which takes a 2/3 majority vote. The Prime Minister then forms a cabinet. I am not sure of the approval process for the cabinet.

If you want to see how this process works.. just google the Elections that just happened in Germany. The two systems are nearly identical.

[Wounds Within]

** THE RESULTS ARE IN **

Shiite-led United Iraqi Alliance won the December 15 parliamentary election, according to final uncertified results announced today. They earned 128 seats in the 275 member Council of Representatives, but still not enough for it to retain an absolute majority.

The Kurdish bloc won 53 seats. The Kurds make up nearly 20 percent of the estimated 25 million Iraqis from what I understand.

Two Sunni Arab tickets won 55 seats. (who also make up about 20% of the population)

Ayad Allawi received 25 seats.

Certification of these results is expected sometime next week.

More then 11 million people are said to have voted on December 15