Allawi Nurtures Popular-But-Strong Image

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=5&u=/ap/20050113/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_allawi_s_legacy

BAGHDAD, Iraq - With elections less than three weeks away, interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi is spending much of his tenure's final days wooing Iraqis and reassuring them of his ability to lead this nation fatigued by war and terror.

It could be a tough sell.


In the six months since the U.S.-backed, tough-talking leader took the helm, things have gotten steadily worse in much of Iraq (news - web sites). An insurgency now nearing its two-year mark has intensified, racial and religious divisions have deepened and discontent has grown over a wide array of problems, from crime and unemployment to power outages and fuel shortages.


Allawi's interim government came to office June 28 with a seven-month mandate to prepare for the Jan. 30 vote and contain the insurgency. At the time, Iraqis hoped that he had what it took to do the job, but the challenges have proved daunting.

~snip~

"If you're asking me to assess Allawi, then I tell you that he did not succeed," said businessman Adel Abdullah, 30. "In fact, he has monumentally failed. He killed many Iraqis and caused shortages of fuel, drinking water and electricity."

[LostInAnomie]

1. Voter Fraud will pull him through...

... into a civil war.

[clem_c_rock]

10. W/ the help of the experts of election fraud

Just hire the help of the country who had the first elections in history where exit polls were inaccurate. Just like Karzi - he will win no problem.

[Swamp Rat]

2. His days are numbered. n/t

[LynnTheDem]

3. Allawi is NOT popular with Iraqis.

At all.

[leftchick]

4. This is an AP puff piece

purely for ameriKan ditto head consumption. When Allawi is installed in a fake election the AmeriKans will be lulled into believing it was the "will of the people". Isn't State Run Propaganda grand?

:grr:

[LynnTheDem]

5. Ain't it tho. Look what it's got us so far.

Death, destruction, bankruptcy (in every meaning of the word) and the entire world despising us as ignorant belligerant lying immoral stupid fools.

Very grand. *sigh*

America done fucked up BIG time this time.

[Supersedeas]

9. 'Merican PROPOGANDA for Bush's SHINY HAPPY Election

and the CIA prop that will be 'elected', the Rovian way.

[w4rma]

20. Propaganda *against* Americans. Almost no Iraqis will read this. (nt)

[Inland]

6. So he's a monumental failure. What does that have to do with winning?

Get a few hundred million from the US, run some negative ads, repeat lies in every speech, and get "independent" groups and commentators to slander the opposition. Bush did it, and he sucks worse than Allawi.

[SunDrop23]

7. "popular but strong image" where?!?

In the locker room at *'s country club?!?

[Inland]

8. An example of Allawi's "tough talk". Shooting prisoners in cold blood.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/16/1089694568757.html?oneclick=true


Sydney Morning Herald
Allawi shot prisoners in cold blood: witnesses
By Paul McGeough in Baghdad
July 17, 2004


Iyad Allawi, the new Prime Minister of Iraq, pulled a pistol and executed as many as six suspected insurgents at a Baghdad police station, just days before Washington handed control of the country to his interim government, according to two people who allege they witnessed the killings.

They say the prisoners - handcuffed and blindfolded - were lined up against a wall in a courtyard adjacent to the maximum-security cell block in which they were held at the Al-Amariyah security centre, in the city's south-western suburbs.

[jmcgowanjm]

11. Five Iraqi provinces reject election farce.

“Election commission” for Salah ad-Din Province resigns.
Five Iraqi provinces reject election farce.

IRR 011205

The so-called “Supreme Election Commissioner” in charge
of supervising the sham “election” farce in Salah ad-
Din Province, together with the 12 members of the
commission, have resigned their posts as of
Wednesday. Mafkarat al-Islam reported from Tirkit that
the commissioner took the step after receiving threats from
the Iraqi Resistance.

The commissioner and the 12 other commission
members announced their resignations on leaflets posted
on mosque doors in the city. They declared their “remorse”
for having gone along with the US-backed election farce,
and announced their
“repentance.”

The resignation of the election commission in Salah ad-
Din Province means that efforts to hold the sham election
have been brought to naught in five provinces: al-Anbar,
Diyala, Mosul, Kirkuk, and now Salah ad-
Din.

[jmcgowanjm]

12. Juan Cole corroborates IRR011105

Hit alAnbar province:

US occupation troops killed Shaykh ‘Abd ar-Razzaq al-Ku‘ud,
the chief of the ad-Dulaym tribes in Iraq at 12 noon as he
came out of his house in Hit in western Iraq. The
Mafkarat al-Islam correspondent reported witnesses as
saying that American forces were waiting at the end of the
main street leading to the Shaykh ‘Abd ar-Razzaq’s house
and opened fire on his car, killing him and his son i
nstantly.
The Americans wanted to hold talks with the Resistance
in secret in order to save face. But Shaykh ‘Abd ar-
Razzaq refused to go along with the American plan
and publicized their offer as well, telling various news
media about it, including Mafkarat al-Islam.

Juan Cole:

Al-Zaman reports that the large and powerful Dulaim tribe
of Western Iraq has issued a statement condemning the
killing by US troops of one of its chiefs, Shaikh Abd al-
Razzaq Inad Mu'jal al-Ka'ud, last week, as well as the
extensive destruction of life and property that has
accompanied the US occupation in their areas. The Dulaim
say that they want the United Nations to establish a fund
to recompense them for their massive losses. They called for
an immediate restoration of the pre-invasion Iraqi army
and other security agencies. They complained that lack
of security in Sunni Arab areas made voting out of the
question, and said that anyway many parties were
counterfeiting ballots. Of all the enemies you could have in Iraq,
I would have advised the Americans not to make one of
the Dulaim.

http://www.juancole.com/

See post #8

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1143429

[leftchick]

13. counterfeiting ballots??

lol.... I am sure Allawi's party is taking the lead in that endeavor.

[jmcgowanjm]

17. Why counterfeit when you're doing the counting? n/t

I call on an old Iraqi friend who used to publish a
literary magazine during Saddam's reign. "They want me to
vote, but they can't protect me," he says. "Maybe there will be
no suicide bomber at the polling station. But I will be
watched. And what if I get a hand grenade in my home
three days' later? The Americans will say they did their
best, Allawi's people will say I am a 'martyr for democracy'. So
do you think I'm going to
vote?"

I like this paragraph-

the Kurdish "Al Takhri", loyal to Mustafa Barzani, which asks
the same question. "There has never (italics: never) been a civil war in Iraq," the editorial thunders. And it is
right.

January 30 In Iraq - All
The Promises Of Doomsday
By Robert Fisk

http://www.arabnews.com/

[0007]

22. Tis the only party!

[David__77]

14. On the beaten path of Suharto, Pinochet, Somoza, Stroessner...

...Allawi will surely join them if he isn't very soon consigned to ignimony. I'm sure a trial is prepared for him concerning his quiescenceto the annihilation of Falluja. He should think of buying real estate in Miami.

[daleo]

15. He is popular in Washington

So, has probably already won the election held in the White House. He better be strong enough that bullets bounce off his body, if he expects to actually govern for long, though.

[jmcgowanjm]

19. January 5, 1973 letter from Nixon to President Thieu

With the negotiations in Paris reaching a point of
agreement, Nixon exerted very strong pressure on Thieu
to accept the eventual settlement. In this letter, Nixon warns
the South Vietnamese leader that "he gravest
consequence would then ensue if your government chose
to reject the agreement<...>."

Should you decide, as I trust you will, to go with us, you have
my assurance of continued assistance in the post-
settlement period and that we will respond with full force
should the settlement be violated by North Vietnam. So
once more I conclude with an appeal to you to close ranks
with us.

Sincerely,

RICHARD NIXON

http://www.vietnamwar.net/Nixon-1.htm

Have your bags packed and ready, Allawi.
Two hours after the last American has heloed
out your body will be hanging from a lamppost

Baker advises administration to consider a phased
withdrawal of troops

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20050113-1330-baker-iraq.html

[ckramer]

16. Let's hope Allawi doesn't get killed one day by Sunni

[leftchick]

21. I won't lose any sleep over it.

For cripes sakes he is a hired thug of chimpo*s who is also an ex-CIA murderer! Perfect partner for the current WH.

[NNN0LHI]

18. I think Saddam tried the same thing. See where that got him Allawi?

I hope this thug gets the same thing some day.

Don

[bemildred]

23. Allawi nurtures weak but weasel and stooge image (more like it). nt