<p>"Arab World Mesmerized by Iraqi Elections" ~ Associated Press </p>
<p>"This is a clear and loud message that Iraqis inside and outside are united in defeating terrorism," said Mansour Ibrahim as he entered a polling station in the upscale Suwfiya neighborhood in Amman, Jordan.</p>
<p>"Arab governments may not say it, but they don't want Iraq's democratic experiment to succeed," said Turki al-Hamad, a prominent Saudi columnist and former political science professor. "Such a success would embarrass them and present them with the dilemma of either changing or being changed."</p>
<p>The elections are a "good omen for getting rid of dictatorship," Yemeni political science student Fathi al-Uraiqi said, chewing khat with friends. "But I hope America is not driven by its own interests but by a genuine desire to spread democracy in the rest of the region."</p>
<p>People who aren't as impressed:
"This election is an American movie made to convince Iraqis to go to the polls so that the United States will stay in Iraq and control its oil," said Jordanian Mohammed Fakhri, 28, owner of a mobile phones shop. "There will be ... a government with Iraqi stooges serving U.S. and Israeli interests."</p>
<p>A veiled Egyptian flower vendor who gave her name only as Um Abdel Rahman dismissed the poll as "a sedative for the people. Democracy is just a decoration."</p>
<p>Wouldn't she like to participate in free elections? "Women speak their minds all the time. I don't need to vote," she said.</p>
<p>Writing in Beirut's Al-Anwar newspaper, political analyst Rafik Khoury said Arab governments who have criticized shortcomings of Iraq's elections, demanding that they be "honest and transparent ... themselves ban such elections for their own peoples."</p>
<p>"If the future promised by the elections appears confusing, are the Iraqis supposed to bet on the future that the executioners promise them?" he said, refering to insurgents.</p>
<p>I think it is a great thing that there is such great turnout even though the voters are risking their lives. This is also a great event because if democracy can come to Iraq it can come to any of the neighboring countries (iran/saudi arabia/etc...)so this is a big event.</p>
<p>i was listening to this Mid-East pundit on the news, and he was parallelling the elections with the progress being made in Afghanistan and even Israel-Palestinian (Israel troops plan to leave 4 west bank cities) ---and also, there has been a sharp drop in violence in both those places.</p>
<p>Afghan parliamentary elections had to be postponed from this May till July becuase too many people wanted to run LoL. </p>
<p>also: Condi Rice is officially our new Secretary of State and will be visiting the Middle East Region in a few days. </p>
<p>Needless to say, I am very optimistic right now.</p>
<p>Even being against the ways this war has been conducted I have to really say it's amazing that people will risk their lives to vote - how many people here would do that? We take voting for granted - that's why so many young people don't care. It seems insane that while walking down the street you can get shot - it's so scary. I really have a lot of gratitude for the Iraqi people. Nevertheless, I plan to be involved in the Democratic take back of the House and Senate in '06 and the White House in '08 =D</p>
<p>even with all sorts of bomb threats, Iraqis are turning out to vote. it's amazing: about 60% of registered voters! isn't the U.S voter turnout usually less than 50%... i think i've heard that somewhere...</p>
<p>Considering many Americans stay home on Election Day when it RAINS, it is amazing to get such a high turnout when faced with the threat of mortar shells and suicide bombs.</p>
<p>I like how they are better at democracy then we are. We espouse ideals of liberty and "the long road to freedom" but we are too lazy to go to the polls, Iraqis risk their lives to be a part of something bigger and greater than themselves and we can't skip the trip to starb's in the morning to take the time to make our democracy work. We don't even deserve the privilege!</p>
<p>""This election is an American movie made to convince Iraqis to go to the polls so that the United States will stay in Iraq and control its oil," said Jordanian Mohammed Fakhri, 28, owner of a mobile phones shop. "There will be ... a government with Iraqi stooges serving U.S. and Israeli interests."</p>
<p>A veiled Egyptian ** flower vendor ** who gave her name only as Um Abdel Rahman dismissed the poll as "a sedative for the people. Democracy is just a decoration."</p>
<h2>Wouldn't she like to participate in free elections? "Women speak their minds all the time. I don't need to vote," she said. "</h2>
<p>Amen! Thank you reporters for reliable, appropriate, and certaintly informed sources.</p>
<p>I agree, I merely said I was impressed with the turnout. I can't say I have much faith in the Iraqi government itself, infact I do think that is a pawn to exploit the nation's resources. Still, numbers don't lie and regardless of how some people felt, people did risk their lives to vote. I just hope they aren't molested too badly.</p>
<p>I wouldn't risk my life for one vote out of millions, so I'll give them that it's impressive. I still don't think the American government should be able to force American taxpayers to pay more than $1000 apiece for them to have this opportunity, however.</p>
<p>that's because u don't see how a stable Iraq is essential for the potential of a stable Middle East region, and ultimately a more stable world. </p>
<p>and of course cynics are skeptical of Bush's vision of working to gradually spread freedom around the world.</p>
<p>LOL Pixie..."that's because u don't see how a stable Iraq is essential for the potential of a stable Middle East region, and ultimately a more stable world."....I like the teacher routine :).</p>
<p>Ya know Pixie...I don't see how exactly this is going to stabalize the middle east. If the terrorists want, they can just go to Iran or Syria or Libya or Saudi Arabia or Yemen or Oman if they want to set up another strike on the US. The new democracy in Iraq is going to serve one purpose and one purpose only: to subsidize Iraqi oil for the US government and corporations. No one elected is going to dare go against US wishes and that wish is to make as much profit off the war as possible. </p>
<p>I am happy to see that 60% of eligible Iraqi's voted during war. That is an astonishing number. I am sad that the US cannot match that percentage with its voters. I second all of those who have said this before.</p>
<p>hmm..they voted arent located all in iraq..no..arent they also located in syria united stated and 15 other different countries..soo hmm...really how many located in iraq actually voted?..also..this plan to liberate middleeast..is ridiculous..forcing yourself upon other countries and "liberating them"..yeh bush is soo stretching america thin..ultimately we will become sooo vulnerable to any attacks..ehh..:(..cant even keep iraq on check..</p>
<p>This "crusade" against terrorism reminds me of B Dylan's song:
The reason for fighting
I never got straight
But I learned to accept it
Accept it with pride
For you don't count the dead
When God's on your side.</p>
<p>In a many dark hour
I've been thinkin' about this
That Jesus Christ
Was betrayed by a kiss
But I can't think for you
You'll have to decide
Whether Judas Iscariot
Had God on his side.</p>
<p>If God's on our side
He'll stop the next war.</p>
<p>Did anybody get that book God's Politics? The author was on The Daily Show. It is an amazing book about how the right wing has monopolized morality and christianity. God isn't a republican!</p>