Ominous campaign literature makes rounds

Posted 1/27/2005 10:15 PM Updated 1/27/2005 11:04 PM

Ominous campaign literature makes rounds
By Steven Komarow, USA TODAY

BAGHDAD — It's just a scrap of white paper, a piece of a poor-quality photocopy slipped under the gates of homes in the al-Salam area of western Baghdad. But it and thousands of others like it could have a profound effect on Sunday's elections.

"God's curse on this comedy named elections, this dirty game that serves the occupier and his bastards," the note says, echoing the threats of the Sunni Muslim militants who lead the anti-American insurgency. "Be away from them and save your life. Being part in the dirty elections is considered a crime against religion, Iraq and the Iraqi people. Don't participate in elections. All polls will be hit."

Bombings and beheadings get the headlines as Iraqi voters prepare to choose who will form their next government and write a constitution for the country. But it's widespread neighborhood intimidation that might be the insurgents' strongest weapon in their effort to thwart the elections.

"They have carried a campaign of intimidation to the Iraqi people," especially in Sunni areas, says Gen. George Casey, commander of the U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq. "That's where they have been much more successful." He says insurgents have contacts down to the neighborhood level.


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http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-01-27-ominous-literature_x.htm

"God's curse on this comedy named elections, this dirty game that serves the occupier and his bastards,"...

I wouldn't dispute that.

to suppress the vote in our urban areas.

I feel so sorry for the people of Iraq. Will life ever be normal for them again?

bush you idiot

publicity is the worst thing that could have happened to Bush's plans. By now, Bush knows that it's going to be a disaster. He's no doubt tried to figure out a way to spin that it's a big success (he even says so - "it's a day that will live in history" , but not the way he thinks).

At the rate things are going, there are articles in MSN news and Yahoo news constantly now. It'll be this way until Sunday and afterwards.

It's Bush's own fault - he made such a big production of it. Now it's going to be rubbed in his face.

could be buried if a bigger one comes along to replace it.

I really don't think the military would go along with an impromptu invasion of Iran but an escalation of the incursions with an eye to provoking an Iranian military response ................ that's not so implausible.

One thing for sure and that's that the wheels are turning in the minds of these immoral thugs.

says Gen. George Casey.

The "insurgents" seem to have taken a page from our administration's book. Our government has been carrying a campaign of intimidation to the American people since 9/11/01. There are actually lots of people out there who voted for Bush because they are afraid. (Just as immigrants in ghettoes pay "protection" money to local thugs--money for protection from the very thugs they are paying off.)

if people inside Iraq go to the polls?They have Iraqis in the US and Europe voting.As I see it they're the ones deciding the elections.