So, Monday will be 2 Weeks since the Iraqi Elections...

There was early word that al Sistani's party was leading, but I haven't heard ANYTHING over the last several days --- except that Iraq is closing its borders late next week for an undisclosed reason.

Any other word? Wonder what's up? :shrug:

voting irregularities in the U.S. = conspiracy theory nutballs


voting irregularities in Iraq = recounts, investigations, close scrutiny


Democracy seems like a VERY fickle system! :shrug:

their own government. But since the one they chose went against American interests something must have been wrong with the voting :eyes: The stupidity of this administration never ceases to amaze me. What did they think? That the majority was going to vote against their best interests? The Shia's have been wanting to ally with Iran since the Iran/Iraq war, Bush finally gave them that chance. Now he's going to pull the rug out from under them, like poppy did to the Kurds in the first gulf War.

are the largest contingent, but "everyone else" is the majority.

And if so, I don't think that will go over big with the Shia.

Secondly, exactly how is Iraq going to close down ALL of its borders? With what manpower?

We haven't been able to do it YET, even with all the US troops there.

Wondering how that's gonna work.

Doesn't answer how the hell they plan on doing that. They can't take all the US troops and just move them all to the border.

And there aren't enough Iraqi troops.

They really expect us to believe that???

http://crisispictures.org/news/



Wednesday, February 09, 2005 BAGHDAD, IRAQ
Reporter for U.S. Government Owned Al-Hurra Killed
Relatives mourn death of Hussein Khazaal, who was brutally murdered by unknown assailents. Khazaal worked for a United States Government propaganda organ Al-Hurra. Al-Hurra broacasts our of Northern Virginia, within spitting distance of the Pentagon.




Wednesday, February 09, 2005 BAGHDAD, IRAQ
Al-Ummah Party candidate Mithal al-Alusi sons killed in Baghdad attack.
Iraqi politician Mithal al-Alusi, notorious as Iraqi politician to visit Israel, escaped unhurt an assassination attempt in western Baghdad today. Two of his sons died in the attack. Mithal al-Alusi was previously the former spokesman for ex-CIA employeet/INC politician Ahmad Chalabi. Clearly this was NOT an ethnically motivated attack, but a poltical one. Who's asleep at the wheel?




Sunday, February 06, 2005 FALLUJAH, IRAQ
Fallujah is Fine. Go back to sleep




Friday, February 11, 2005
An Iraqi youth looks at the blood stains inside a bakery in the al-Ameen area in the eastern suburb of Baghdad. Unidentified militants attacked three bakeries openning fire on all that were inside.(AFP/Marwan Naamani)



Marine military gear from Capt. Lyle Gordon, Capt. Paul Alaniz, Staff Sgt. Dexter Kimble and Lance Cpl. Tony Hernandez were placed inside Airman Memorial Chapel during the memorial services for the fallen men at Miramar Marine Corp Air Station in San Diego on Friday, Feb. 11, 2005. The Marines were killed along with 26 other Marines and one Navy sailor in a helicopter crash in Iraq on Jan. 26. More than 500 mourners paid tribute Friday to the four Texans who were among the 31 killed. (AP Photo/Don Boomer, Pool)



In this photo released by the Department of Defense, U.S. Army Commander U.S. Central Command Gen. John Abizaid answers a reporter's question during a media availability with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, center, and U.S. Army Commander of Multi-National Force Iraq (news - web sites) Gen. George Casey Jr., right, in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Feb. 11, 2005. Rumsfeld made a surprise visit to Iraq to meet with the senior leadership and the troops deployed there. (AP Photo/Department of Defense, Staff Sgt. Brett McMillan)



Iraqi Shi'ite men, dressed as an ancient Islamic warrior, take part in the religious festival of Ashura in the holy city of Najaf, south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, February 11, 2005. Iraq will seal its borders next week to prevent Shi'ite pilgrims flooding into the country, in the latest emergency measure intended to thwart insurgent violence. This moves comes as Shi'ites prepare to mark Ashura, a major Shi'ite religious ceremony, which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, who was killed in battle more than 1,300 years ago. REUTERS/Ali Jasim