Election Opinions from Iraq

Yesterday was supposed to be an historic day in Iraq as Iraqis voted for or against the new Iraqi constitution. I read several blogs from Iraq to gather impressions from the people who are supposed to be making their own government.

Hamorabi sounds very happy, and predicts approval of the Constitution by 80% of Iraq. He hopes this will end the terrorism from the insurgency.

Riverbend says that power went out more than usual during voting, and that the government blames “sabotage.” She also points out that the latest revisions to the constitution, made apparently to appease sunnis, has not been read by many voters.

Other problems include the ban on expatriot voting, which was aloud in the last election. This has not been reported on in the west, but will doubtless have a big effect on the election.

Also, a curfew prevents any Iraqis from driving, and many areas don’t have polling places within walking distance. insurgent violence was blamed for keeping polling places a secret until the last minute also.

Riverbend is an educated young Iraqi woman in Baghdad who does not support the U.S. occupation, complains that the voters will be predominantly poorer, less educated Iraqis that will tend to vote as Islamic clerics tell them. She also does not believe mst sunnis are going to vote “yes.”

She tells an funny story about her neighbor, who is moire interested in trimming a tree so it doesn’t stain her driveway than in reading the new constitution.

A bigger concern for Iraq is keeping utilities on and avoiding a civil war, though many think it may be too late for that.

Riverbend went with her parents by bus to vote. Her mom was give an extra voting card, which suggests that “double voting” could happen, and they were told several times they could not vote then that they could. Her family will be voting against the constitution.

I heard on NPR that 10 poll workers were kidnapped today.

baghdadtreasuredetails Saudi political commercials discouraging young people from joining the insurgency.

It is the holy month of Ramadhan for Muslims — the month for prayers and fasting during the day. Polling places closed by 5 p.m. local time, before families gather to break the fast.

Elections results will likely not be final for a week. Truth_about_Iraqis reports that American operations in cities like Al-Qaim are keeping most people inside and not voting. Some say this was deliberate by the Americans. Apparently there was no polling place in Al-Qaim. Continued fighting in Ramadi kept polling stations closed. Mortars were fired into the Green Zone in Bahdad, a normal occurence.

Though our invasion was based on lies, now that we Americans have been there so long I hope that the vote is fair and that a Constitution gets settled soon and that we pull our soldiers out. Iraq deserves the right to grow it’s own government now, free from U.S. pressures and occupation. — T