Powell predicts Shiite victory in Iraqi elections

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050102/wl_mideast_afp/usiraqiranvote&cid=1514&ncid=1478

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) predicted a Shiite victory in upcoming Iraqi elections, but moved to assuage concerns it could bolster Iranian influence inside the country.


His statements came amid growing indications that Sunni Arabs will either boycott the January 30 polls or will be prevented from taking part in it due to a spreading insurgency.


"The new government that comes into place in Baghdad, the transitional national assembly, will be majority Shiite," Powell said on NBC's "Meet the Press" show. "That's the majority of the population."


Shiite Muslims make up more than 60 percent of Iraq (news - web sites)'s population, concentrated mostly in southern and central parts of the country. Sunni Arabs, who live in central and western provinces, comprise about 20 percent of all Iraqis.

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[Benhurst]

1. If they're getting a BushAmerican style election, Powell should know. NT

[jdj]

2. Powell is a genuis.

Why are we being Powelled to death all of a sudden? What are they hiding?

I am also wondering is this is some world wide effort to fuck the women's rights movement.

They are knocking us back decades here, and it's hello shari'a if the shiites win.

[Erika]

17. Sharia relegates women to the status of chattel

So Bush has actually hurt the women's movement in Iraq. Hussein was secular.

So this is why our men and women are dying in Iraq?

[jdj]

18. I am aware of all this, hence my post.

your point is?

[chyjo]

3. Wow

stating the obvious, at least he will finally be right about something.

[TheFarseer]

4. What is Chuck Hagel predicting *rimshot*

but seriously, wouldn't a better response be, "that's up to the Iraqi people"? What kind of message is that sending? The fix is in, it sounds like to me.

[signmike]

11. Ask Diebold if you want to know who won. WON, I said it

It's over in advance, like ours was.

[ihelpu2see]

19. sure the fix is in, don't be surprised if there is a news flash

and a few important Sunni (sp?) win, I believe that is the true fix.... the US is so pitiful at nation building? I really wish History was taught better in high school, if so maybe Kerry would have won by more than he did! ?

[EFerrari]

20. Is Chuck Hagel aka Mr. ES&S gearing up to run in 2008?

Tonight I saw a rerun of "The McGlaughlin Group" from Friday or so. This idea was floated.

[SOS]

5. A Shiite

not influenced by Iran.
In other words, Allawi "wins".

[atreides1]

6. "That's the Majority of the Population"

Then by Powell's reasoning, none of the members of Congress should be as rich as they are.

I mean isn't the middle class the majority of the population here in the US.

[VegasWolf]

7. If bush's puppet wins, that country will be in civil war and Cheeney

still won't get his Halliburton bonus.

[wildwww2]

21. Regardless of who wins. The civil war has already started.

The name "insurgents" is just bullcrap the Bu$hovics use to convince the sheeple that we are fighting a small enemy force that we can eventually squash. Negative on that. Our troops are amidst a civil war. The so called insurgents are just people reacting like we would if someone invaded us and tried to tell us what to do. Killing not only our troops but anyone even thought to be helping us. Kind of like our civil war. But we incited this mess. Because Bu$h Inc. had their puppet Saddam to get rid of. Since he was a dictator running a strict secular dictatorship. Now we have the essence of a freaking holy war. Or holy war crime as I call it. I swear my military logic tells me that we could have a million men on the ground in Iraq right now and we would still slowly but surely get our asses kicked. There is too many millions of people there who do not want Bu$h Inc`s phoney excuse for elections shoved down their throats. But still the civil war was started by the squatter in Al Gore`s White House.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[VegasWolf]

23. Very true! n/t

[Straight Shooter]

8. The great Swami speaks.

Feh. I'm in such awe :eyes:

[ckramer]

9. Did he also predict Sunni would kill them all eventually?

[MaineDem]

10. Gee, the Sunnis won't take part...

and Powell predicts the other guys will win?

Brilliant!

[tx_dem41]

12. It wouldn't matter if they did take part...

The Shi'ites have this one easy.

[okieinpain]

13. man are the shiites going to be pissed off when they wake up

the next day after the elections. someone should tell them about paper ballots that are tabulated on diebold machines.

[heyphillip]

14. Iraq Elections

Looks like a recipe for all out civil war to me. Thanks to the republicans and there spreading democracy in the Middle East bullshit

[Disturbed]

15. 170 Political Parties running unknow candidates.

I wonder how many of those are Shi'ite parties?

These elections are going to be even more wak than ours was.

Strange that Powell is the spokesperson now since he is a lame fuck er..I mean duck.

[JMac]

16. No Shi'ite Dick Tracey

[hatrack]

22. Amazing! Who could possibly have predicted this!

Only our Secretary of State, who apparently can read a CIA Country Profile like no one else.

Somehow picking up on a fact that eluded all other analysts, the Amazing Colon Bowell somehow figured out that over 60% of Iraq's citizens were Shiite - and then went out on an analytical limb to predict that this demographic oddity would give them the advantage in upcoming elections!

Astonishing!

[lovuian]

24. I'm sure the Saudis will be happy about this

NOT!!!

[okieinpain]

25. I wonder how big the combined iran/iraqi oil fields will be. man

those chinese guys are really going to thank bush, for getting rid of saddam.