Ottawa in talks to help run Iraq election

[Newsjock]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041124.wiraq24/BNStory/National/

By BRIAN LAGHI, JOHN IBBITSON and SHAWN McCARTHY
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

Ottawa and New York — Canada is in talks with Washington, the United Nations and the interim government of Iraq to play a leading role in preparing for and possibly monitoring that country's parliamentary election early next year, sources told The Globe and Mail.

A senior official confirmed yesterday that the federal government is discussing the possibility with the three players, and a formal announcement could coincide with the official visit to Canada next week of President George W. Bush.

"There are conversations around that, but no commitments have been asked for or given," the official said of Canada's participation in the Jan. 30 vote in Iraq.

However, "we are known for our elections management," the official added, pointing to the leading role that Canada played in preparing for and monitoring the recent election in Afghanistan.

The talks could signal a rapprochement between the United States and Canada in the wake of the Liberal government's decision to oppose the war in the absence of UN Security Council approval.

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[Liberty Belle]

1. Can we get them to come run OUR elections?

[talk hard]

2. A Republican company ran the election in Afghanistan.

There is no way BushCo will let outsiders actually run the election in Iraq. They want their choice to win. And they've tried out their equipment on Americans and it's worked swell since 2000.