Bush's Stake Is Huge in Iraqi Elections

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050127/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_on_the_ballot&cid=544&ncid=1480


~snip~


Sunday's vote provides the world a chance to measure the results of a U.S.-led war that has killed more than 1,400 Americans — and thousands more Iraqis — and is costing over $1 billion a week.


Bush has given the vote such a high priority that he has been on the phone every few days with either interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi or Iraqi interim President Ghazi al-Yawer, including a five-minute call to al-Yawer on Thursday morning.


~snip~

Just the fact that "people are voting" is significant in a region not known for self rule, Bush contended at a White House news conference. He also pointed to successful recent votes in Afghanistan (news - web sites), the Palestinian territories and Ukraine.


At the same time, Bush and top aides have been emphasizing that the Sunday elections are just the first in a series of votes meant to lead to a new Iraqi constitution and a fully elected leadership.





hmmmmm...

[Ladyhawk]

Can someone photoshop a palantir with the Eye of Sauron in it...

...under the weed's hand?

[Redstone]

27. You wanted a picture?

How about this one?

Redstone

[kwyjibo]

36. damn.

that's messed up.

[leftchick]

42. gross

but appropriate. kudos!

[Redstone]

43. The dead iraqis are from that freeper website

that got mentioned in another thread yesterday.

Redstone

[egoprofit]

54. good job!! looks good (but of course gross and sad)

good Photoshop work!

[Redstone]

55. Thanks for the compliments

I do photocompositing about four hours a day, so this one was a snap.

Remember how they used to say "the camera never lies?" I can make the camera lie like a rug.

Redstone

[The Sad Little Pony]

64. It's always a bit distasteful...

To use someone's picture like that.
I wouldn't want one of my relatives' images to be used in such a manner without their permission.
But then I suppose it's "for their own good", huh? (In Their Name?)

I guess the Iraqis better get used to that sentiment.

[Oreo]

1. It's a no-win situation for Bush

Pro-Bush people win and the insurgency rises up against the puppet gvt much more strongly.

Anti-Bush people win and tell the US to leave. I doubt Bush would leave without a democracy he likes. He would then have to defy a democratically elected government.

One day... and I hope it's soon... Bush is going to have to pay for all his fuckups

[Freedom_from_Chains]

15. Anti Bush People Win?

I'm sure steps have already been taken to see that doesn't happen.

[MyDogSpot]

23. Feith isn't going to hang around to learn the outcome

He knows his efforts have been disastrous, for his corporate buddies, who are bailing out.

[diamond14]

32. rats jumping off bush* sinking ship....the sELECTION is soooOOOO

hyped up to the American public....that it has become a BIG LOSE situation for the chimp....


BOTH the Iraq/Afganistan WARS are going very very badly....Americans are getting FED UP...the TRUTH is dribbling out in condi's and gonzales hearings.....

the OUTRAGE is boiling up as more and more American Troops are KILLED...and even the RED state idiots can no longer justify the carnage.....

amazing too..since historically, bush* should have a LOT of polical capital after his second sELECTION....it seems there is NONE...

[illflem]

2. I have no doubts that within a month after the election

that any of the elected who are still alive will be so deep in hiding so as to be totally ineffective.

[reprobate]

47. Haven't looked at it that way, but I think you're right.

Violence begets nothing but violence. And it couldn't happen to a more deserving person.

[skippythwndrdog]

3. Well, I hope the election goes well.

I hope a stable government is elected. I hope that Iraq becomes a model democratic republic. I hope, I hope, I hope. Would be nice, wouldn't it?

[Kikosexy2]

4. No...

no.no.no. And give Chimpie and his evil minions reasons to gloat. Absolutely not. May he fail and fail really bad.

[leftchick]

9. so you are buying the US propaganda media line...

that if just a QUARTER of Iraqis vote this is a success for the chimp**?

[0rganism]

18. This isn't just about Chimp anymore

Face it. Our troops aren't leaving Iraq until a government to PNAC's liking emerges. The insurgency will continue until our troops leave Iraq. That means the violence and bloodshed and torture and murder of civilians of all ages continues until Iraq is a self-governing entity.

This election has to succeed, somehow. Without an accepted government of its own, Iraq has no infrastructure support and no way to stand on its own at the UN to ask for help. It's people starve, it's cities are in ruins, rebels and mercenaries have their way.

So what if Chimpy McCokespoon takes credit for an election in Iraq? He'll do that whether they turn out well or not. So what if the PNAC hardliners see this as justification for additional actions within the region? History has shown us that they needed no justification at all, anyway.

More than anything else, the Iraqis need a time of peace and stability. If the elections don't help, then I hope sincerely that something else will.

[Just Me]

19. Per PNAC, our troops will NEVER leave: permanent military presence.

That's part of the PNAC democracy package. That's why Americans are told that they must focus on a "winning strategy" rather than an "exit strategy".

[0rganism]

20. The PNACers need to free up some troops to continue their "project"

But to the extent that our soldiers will be stationed in Iraq indefinitely, I continue to hope for the best possible outcome of the elections and any potential for perception of the new government as legitimate. The less people killed over this, the better.

We shouldn't have invaded in the first place, but bush chose not to listen to the 10 million of us in our "focus groups". Right now, Iraq has nothing approaching a legitimate civilian government. It's a fucking joke, or it would be if Iraq's children weren't still being ripped to pieces by bombs and mortar shells. There is precious little that stands between Iraq and a bloody ethnic civil war now; I have some small hope, however slim and ill-founded, that the people can vote in an assembly which finds a peaceful means to resolve the crisis.

Some kind of change is absolutely necessary, regardless. The elections are the first step in that process. Instead of pissing on their elections prematurely, let's hope instead that the Iraqis manage to put together enough of a working coalition government to demand uncoerced, in front of the entire world, that the American military gets the hell out of their country.

[twaddler01]

28. We will not pull out of Iraq until...

...an official gets elected that the United States likes (meaning they will be allies with the U.S. and be able to give lots of money for the oil Bush went for, so he can give his big businesses more support and cashola).

[okieinpain]

25. I rather have him gloat, then for iraq to fail. I've got a daughter in

the reserves, and two boys one 19, and the other is 17. I'd rather not have a draft.

[twaddler01]

29. we will win one way or another

Let's just hope we stop at Iraq and don't move on to Syria and Iran--where the terrorists seem to be coming from. With Bush's "war on terror" we might go to war with all the nations that harbor them...this could be bad. However, I don't think the people will let this happen considering the bloodshed already and the number of U.S. citizens that are having doubts about this war already...but I'm sure other countries wonder about us...

Baath Backers, Extremists Slip Into Iraq
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20050127/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_security_adviser_1

[skippythwndrdog]

49. Letting your hatred for * overwhelm your sense of humanity?

Sure sounds like it.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

52. That comment reads like a wet dream RW quote to make the Left

look stupid.

[HumblePiRSquared]

67. You are wrong

We want what is best for every freedom loving person and whatever helps end the war and saves lives.

I would rather have a gloat with a win than a loss with more death.

[Skittles]

69. you don't seem to get it

we are OCCUPYING Iraq. The "election" is a f***ing SHAM because WE HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING THERE.

read the opionion of someone who KNOWS:

http://www.juancole.com/2005/01/mixed-story-im-just-appalled-by.html

[leftchick]

5. Wouldn't it be nice....

Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older
Then we wouldn’t have to wait so long
And wouldn’t it be nice to live together
In the kind of world where we belong

You know it’s gonna make it that much better
When we can say goodnight and stay together

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could wake up
In the morning when the day is new
And after having spent the day together
Hold each other close the whole night through

Happy times together we’ve been spending
I wish that every kiss was neverending
Wouldn’t it be nice

Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray it might come true
Baby then there wouldn’t be a single thing we couldn’t do
We could be married
And then we’d be happy

Wouldn’t it be nice

:eyes:

[louis-t]

11. Thanks for the song

I lost myself in it for a few minutes.

[Steely_Dan]

50. You know...

Paul McCartney thought that Brian Wilson was (is) a musical genius. The Beach Boys album, Pet Sounds was the inspiration for Sgt. Pepper.

Nuggets of useless information.

-Paige

[spanone]

71. Imagine...

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

[Demeter]

37. I Would Be Delighted IF the US Became A Model Democratic Republic

but the odds of that happening are vanishingly small at this point.

[Laurab]

66. Chances of that happening

are about as good as the chances of Chimpshit telling the truth about something to the American people, unfortunately.

[whosinpower]

6. Sorry - but this is a total crock of Sh!t

There is no risk to Bushco. Because the election is rigged - period.
So - it matters not. There will not be any live coverage of the elections at the polling areas as it is too dangerous. No one will know precisely how many iraqi's voted and so transparency, relevancy and fairness are not part of the equation. It is all rigged.

Am I skeptical and cynical? You bet. Bushco would never EVER risk losing all that has been invested in Iraq by having a government "elected" that might ask the US to leave.

All this is really is a smokescreen for the American public.

[mutius]

24. I agree

[cthrumatrix]

26. of course it's rigged...it's a PR smokescreen for "freedom" while

the US plans to occupy and plunder the nations resources.

[Redstone]

7. "measure the results of a U.S.-led war"????

The results of this war have already been measured aplenty in the numbers of dead and maimed and orphaned.

Redstone

[cliss]

8. Cliss to Bush:

Get used to failure, buddy. If you thought your own election on Nov. 2 was a challenge, try this one.

Let it never be said that you aren't ambitious!!! In case you didn't know, the word on the street is, "you show up at the 'polling booth', and you're dead". Iraqis will listen to their own, rather than you.

Don't you think?

[kiraboo]

10. High stakes?

I don't believe it. It does not matter whether Bush succeeds or fails. His supporters will rally round His Royal Lowness no matter how badly things go, no matter how many deaths he is responsible for.

[Kolesar]

12. Then he has to deliver a state of the union speech in a few days

Bush is notable for getting by delivering speeches and press conferences that are devoid of content. I know the international press will not be kind to President Warmonger if he does not deliver anything akin to reality. I just hope the Americans get a brain this time.

[diamond14]

33. last year, bush* talked of the IMMINENT danger of STEROID use

by athletes, and a couple of other 'little' issues, but NOTHING about the Iraq/Afganistan WAR...AND Chalabi stood GRINNING in the balcony with mrs. bush*.....


I stood outside the Capital with the Military Families, in the bone-chilling cold, as we read the NAMES of the DEAD....nobody cared...the main stream press (MSM) gave bush* a pass on his sooooooOOO important STEROID initiative...

it wasn't until the next day that I heard the STATE OF THE UNION, and I WAS HORRIFIED.....

[Kolesar]

34. that is a sad story

I don't think the media has been sufficiently critical of President Warmonger's Inaugural Speech, so I don't have any great expectations this time.

[jjtss]

35. And the media wonders....

why so few are tuning in to their propaganda.

[NYC]

57. You're right. We'll be hearing about how Iraq was democratic

enough to hold an election. Won't matter if anyone actually got to vote, or whether or not the candidates were identified. Mission accomplished.

I wish this whole thing would end.

[TahitiNut]

13. All failures will be the fault of Iraqis and any success credited to Bush.

That's how it works in the cloud-cuckoo-land of reichbot sycophantasy. :eyes:

[goddess40]

14. Just like here the election, the outcome is set

Does anyone really believe that there is any question that the results of the election in Iraq hasn't been set for months.

[joanski01]

16. I thought I heard this on MSNBC this a.m.

Did anyelse hear it? The reporter stationed in Bagdad was talking about the elections. He said that after the people vote, they had to dip their finger in blue dye to prove that they voted. Then when they went out into the streets, they would be a target for insurgents.

I couldn't believe my ears. Is this what I heard?

[Az_lefty]

22. Sounds like the guy was being honest.

Might as well paint a target on their backs.

[daleo]

17. Sure he has a huge stake

He has the only vote that counts.

And "over a billion a week" should read "over a billion over a billion a week".

[Az_lefty]

21. Doesn't matter what the outcome is..

the chimp will declare victory anyway. I'm so embarrassed to have this fool for a president.

[twaddler01]

30. the elections are plain old BS

This is just a way of making the Iraqi's beleive in a fair election. We all know whoever wins will be the one to support Bush. I wonder how much farther we will go in the next 3 years :shrug:

[Massachusetts]

31. "Bush's Stake Is Huge in Iraqi Elections"

The little king bit off more than he can chew. I'm betting he won't last (4) more years.....under pressure....Iraq, SS, Debt, etc..etc..under pressure.

"These are the days it never rains but it pours".-Bowie

[enki23]

38. so he *does* have halliburton stock

.

[Demeter]

39. What If They Gave An Election....

and NOBODY showed up?

[twaddler01]

40. oh they will show up...

At least you will see that they have in the media. Whether it is true or not is a whole other story...

[cliss]

51. Yup. I can just see it now.....

the US is holding auditions for "voters". They'll be looking for natural-looking Iraqis, who can go into the voting booth and look happy, relaxed, and "liberated".

The troops will pay them $5.00 a pop to go vote for their favorite Ayatollah. They'll ask them to smile and laugh. "Smile", they'll say. "Hold up your voting ballot, so TV viewers can see it clearly", the director will say.

Problem is, they'll be showing the same clip of a herd of voters over and over again. But maybe viewers won't notice........

[Politicub]

41. They have already written the press release

"voting in iraq went off without a hitch! The flag of freedom has been planted in the garden of human suffering. blah blah blah"

The Lawton Chiles(sp) bit on Morning Sedition was a trip this morning. He called in, "AMMMMEeen Mark Marin... The Iraqi's had a huge turn out for the vote, and freedom is definately on the march." I almost ROFL in my car on the way to work!

[hector459]

44. That means they will be a "success" no matter what happens or how many

people are killed. The US press is already to read their scripts and the talk radio hosts are all set to talk about Bill Clinton on a variety of subjects.

[llmart]

45. Wow!

He spent a whole five minutes on the phone. Big friggen' deal. Guess that was hard work.

I swear the media in this country are on crack. They write this like it was a big deal for him to spend five whole minutes.

[Kablooie]

46. He has NOTHING at stake AT ALL!

If many people vote he will proclaim Democracy and his policies victorious in Iraq.

If NO ONE votes, he will proclam Democracy and his policies victorious in Iraq.

Half of the US will sing his praises no matter what the outcome.

The rest of the world sees exactly whats happening but that has absolutely NO EFFECT on Bush and his followers. NONE!

George Bush has NOTHING AT STAKE IN ANYTHING! He will always proclaim himself a success and everyone will blindly believe him. THAT is ths state of the union today.

[Thor_MN]

48. The overall problem is that Bush's "steak" is itty bitty........

[Bullshot]

53. Is it just me? Or is it so patently obvious that the world's perception

of these Iraqi elections is that it's a U.S.-rigged event in which Bush's puppets are as good as in office before these elections are conducted?

[Kablooie]

56. It's just you ...

and everybody else.

[NYC]

58. Imagine what the Iraqi perception must be.

[Disturbed]

59. From simple to insane

Prior elections for Iraqis were simple. Saddam: Yes or No.

Now they have 110 different parties and 750 unkown candidates to vote for. The percentages will be interesting, no?

[nookiemonster]

60. What a teflon clown!

This shit will just bounce off like everything else. Our complacent "fourth estate" will cower in... Again....

I'm just waiting for the tipping point. :spank:

[sampsonblk]

61. Stake? What stake?

If they go off well, its all because of Bush the Great. If its a disaster, then its because those stupid Iraqis don't have the courage to fight for democracy.

Haven't we seen Bush's playbook often enough to know what's coming? Let's pray the collaborationist Dem "leaders" won't accept it this time.

[98geoduck]

62. The only stake is the one going through the citizens of the US...

Bush and the neocon 12 have already invested in the Euro...

[Kablooie]

65. I beg to differ...

I agree that if it goes well, it's all because of Bush the Great.

But if it is a disaster, all you will hear is that it was a tremendous success and all because of Bush the Great.

[sampsonblk]

68. Good point

Everything's a success now, and if anyone complains then they are unpatriotic.

[twaddler01]

63. but it is for the common good

We are freeing the Iraqi people from terriorists. They finally get to choose who their leader is "on their own", wihout influence, without bribery. For once, democracy will be brought to the middle east. I hope many turn out to the election and....okay, I can't finish...

Bush might as well cast his ballot for everyone because he will get his way...

[RawMaterials]

70. yes the stake is huge thats why

there going to use the same corrupt voting system that they use here.
do you really think that 70% of the population showed up to vote(and thats not including the Shiites) give me a break. this is just propaganda.