NBC: Poll Workers' Courage Could Be Key To Election

[Hissyspit]

MSM take:


Poll workers' courage could be key to election
Turnout, level of violence also barometers of success in Iraq
By Campbell Brown
Correspondent
NBC News
Updated: 12:04 p.m. ET Jan. 28, 2005

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Security, turnout and the presence of workers to run the polling stations are the key variables to watch as Iraqis prepare to vote in Sunday's historic election, according to NBC's Campbell Brown.

What is the extent of security preparations ahead of the election?
U.S. military forces are on patrol and are focusing, at least in Baghdad, on the areas around the polling stations. They are doing door-to-door sweeps where they, based on intelligence, go into someone’s home and check for weapons, and, in general, scope it out to try to get a sense of the area.

When we have gone out on patrol with they were also looking for locations around polling places where, for example, a sniper might be able to hide out and target people going in and out. They are keeping a very visible presence, particularly in those areas. The polling places are also heavily guarded by Iraqi police.

- snip -

What are the types of potential threats that voters fear?
In the more dangerous areas — the areas that we hear about — it’s the obvious. Here in Baghdad, as well as in Mosul, Ramadi and Tikrit, there are constant bombings. Polling place in particular have been a target, but also election workers. Election workers have been killed, have been kidnapped, their families threatened. Anyone directly associated with the election is obviously a target.

But one of the things that is of a major concern is some of the areas where there has been more stability, particularly in the south, and in the north, in the Kurdish areas.

- snip -

How do regular Iraqis feel about the intense security?
The people that actually do go to the polls will be showing extraordinary courage. Almost everybody you talk to says that they are afraid. It’s obvious that there is nothing comfortable about this for any of them.

MORE: URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6879989/

Campbell Brown is the co-anchor of NBC News' Weekend Today and an NBC News correspondent. She is on assignment in Baghdad for the Iraqi elections and will be anchoring Weekend Today from there on Saturday and Sunday.

[VegasWolf]

1. Again, NBC = FOX. Totally ball-less network. No Balls Central. n/t

[Divernan]

2. It takes a death wish to be a poll worker OR voter there.

That or you'd have to be a real idiot to think your vote in this charade of an election is worth risking your life.

[Az_lefty]

3. The only safe polling place would be inside a tank.