Some Just Voted for Food

http://www.dahrjamailiraq.com/hard_news/archives/hard_news/000192.php#more

Snip
Many Iraqis said Monday that their names were marked on a list provided by the government agency that provides monthly food rations before they were allowed to vote.

”I went to the voting centre and gave my name and district where I lived to a man,” said Wassif Hamsa, a 32-year-old journalist who lives in the predominantly Shia area Janila in Baghdad. ”This man then sent me to the person who distributed my monthly food ration.”

Mohammed Ra'ad, an engineering student who lives in the Baya'a district of the capital city reported a similar experience.

I wonder why .......

And of course, it provides something for the idiot to gloat over.
The irony of the "peaceful" voting is how the administration had to back-pedal and point out some of the violence out of fear that the "peaceful" election would encourage more cries for American troops to get the hell out of Iraq!!!
Isn't that what they call getting hoisted by your own petard?

US Media ignores US use of food aid to force Iraq registrations/votes

http://www.dahrjamailiraq.com/hard_news/archives/hard_news/000192.php#more
EYEWITNESS: BAGHDAD | Main

January 31, 2005
Some Just Voted for Food
Inter Press Service
Dahr Jamail

BAGHDAD, Jan 31 (IPS) - Voting in Baghdad was linked with receipt of food rations, several voters said after the Sunday poll.

Many Iraqis said Monday that their names were marked on a list provided by the government agency that provides monthly food rations before they were allowed to vote.

”I went to the voting centre and gave my name and district where I lived to a man,” said Wassif Hamsa, a 32-year-old journalist who lives in the predominantly Shia area Janila in Baghdad. ”This man then sent me to the person who distributed my monthly food ration.”

Mohammed Ra'ad, an engineering student who lives in the Baya'a district of the capital city reported a similar experience.

Ra'ad, 23, said he saw the man who distributed monthly food rations in his district at his polling station. ”The food dealer, who I know personally of course, took my name and those of my family who were voting,” he said. ”Only then did I get my ballot and was allowed to vote.”

”Two of the food dealers I know told me personally that our food rations would be withheld if we did not vote,” said Saeed Jodhet, a 21-year-old engineering student who voted in the Hay al-Jihad district of Baghdad.

There has been no official indication that Iraqis who did not vote would not receive their monthly food rations.

Many Iraqis had expressed fears before the election that their monthly food rations would be cut if they did not vote. They said they had to sign voter registration forms in order to pick up their food supplies.


Snip

I am so enraged by the rhetoric I wrote our fake president an email.

It is nasty but it speaks the truth out loud. He won't read it of course but it made me feel better anyway. Text below:



To:
President George Bush

January 31, 2005

I know you never read these because if you did you would realize what a mess you have created and step down from office in shame, the way you should, but I thought I'd congratulate you on your "wag the dog" routine on the Iraqi elections. You obviously paid your media correspondents well. For now, they are willing to spout your rhetoric, despite the fact at least three of them have already come forward to expose the fact you have been bribing them to do so.

I also wanted to make sure you understood America is not fooled. Sunni's did NOT vote and your THREATS to them are the REASON they did not vote. Your fake Iraqi citizens and "long lines at the polls" really didn't cut it for most of us. You have set Iraq up for disaster and it is quite clear that you will also attempt to tell the American public Iran is a threat to your newly installed "democracy."

America will not buy it. When you attempt to reinstate the draft because of your miserable failure as a war president America will not give their son's and daughters to you. I suggest you start looking for live children among your decreasing numbers of supporters now, before it is too late. Oh wait, I forgot, the greedy corporate conglomerate that represents your constituency NEVER sends their children off to die in illegal wars. What will you do for live bodies?

Golden , CO

But, I assumed it would take a few days for details to begin leaking out.