Iraq parties join forces to avert defeat

[JoFerret]

Interesting update on the Iraq election.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041003/API/410030654

...
Many of the parties are now scurrying to form alliances - even with arch rivals - in a bid to avert embarrassing defeat in the polls scheduled for January.

...

"We're trying to form a coalition with other forces inside Iraq," said Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, one of the largest Shiite Muslim groups.

...

"We don't mind sharing with other groups," agreed Adnan al-Kadhemi of the rival Shiite Dawa party, saying such tactics were only for the good of the Shiite electorate.

Both parties - which are religious in ideology - are courting al-Sadr....

....
SCIRI, Dawa and other former exile parties, however, are tainted in the eyes of many.....

"They lived a comfortable life outside Iraq and have no understanding of our suffering," said Mona Hussein, a 29-year-old Shiite engineer who said she won't vote for the former exiled leaders.

"How can we have confidence in people who handed our country over to the occupation?" said a former teacher, Suad Hadi....

Al-Sadr is a major wild card in the election....

[daleo]

1. Here is another key passage:

"But what is most worrying, Atiyyah said, is that areas of the Sunni Triangle - where opposition to the U.S. and the Baghdad government is the staunchest - might be left out of voting, either because Sunnis boycott or because violence makes balloting impossible.

If that happens, said Atiyyah, the 275-seat constituent assembly will be dominated by Shiites and parties of the Kurds, who make up about 20 percent of the population.

"How can we have a parliament minus 25 percent of the population and then talk about a constitution?" asked Atiyyah, who believes elections must be delayed until the security situation improves and national reconciliation is achieved."

Any election that leaves out areas of the country will lack internal or international legitimacy. It is that simple.

[patdem]

2. WOW, the Shiites are worrying about the Sunni's...you think the repubs

would worry if NY and Calif were left out of the voting block??? I think not.

Iraq is more nationalistic and patriotic than even Americans...would I care if Utah was left out??? Let me think on that!!! :evilgrin: