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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Iraqi President Urges Free Elections |
| 2004-06-06 |
| Iraq's new president said in remarks published Saturday that free elections were needed as soon as possible so that the country does not become a U.S. "puppet." Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer, a Sunni Muslim critic of the occupation, was named to the largely ceremonial post June 1 after Iraqi officials prevailed in their choice for president over the candidate favored by the United States. He told Munich's Focus magazine he hoped that the United Nations would support "free, fair and transparent elections" as planned by January 31, 2005. "The sooner the better," he said in the interview printed in German. "For decades Iraq was the play toy of various dictators. Now it should not be permitted to be the puppet of the great powers. Therefore it is absolutely necessary to bring the power back to the Iraqi people as soon as possible." Though al-Yawer said elections should be supervised by the United Nations, he emphasized "one thing must be very clear: from now on decisions are ours." |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #4 Iraqi President Urges Free Elections Isn't that one of the main reasons we are there? Removing Saddam was the easy part. Facilitating free elections where the people of Iraq choose their government is the more difficult part. At this point, it is the most important goal of the mission, with the Saddam removal part being already accomplished. A free government elected by the Iraqi people is the one event most feared by the al Qaeda types, and hence the all out effort to prevent it. Don't fall prey to the pessimism that the Iraqi people will elect a despotic government. They won't. January 31, 2005 will be seen in the future as a turning point, but in truth the turning point began with the decision to address the problem of a Saddam led Iraq. |
| Posted by: Jake 2004-06-06 12:16:26 PM |
| #3 He'd be wiser to worry about being a puppet of Iran or Al Qaeda. |
| Posted by: virginian 2004-06-06 9:27:18 AM |
| #2 I jess here's whats I want to here: ...does not become a U.S. "puppet." sounds very different from: not be permitted to be the puppet of the great powers. |
| Posted by: Anonymous5131 2004-06-06 4:36:39 AM |
| #1 Ohh, I see it coming...thousands of eager voters lined up to get to the voting booth(with the intention of supporting Al Sadr sympathizers), just to be blown up by Car bombs to disrupt the progress!! |
| Posted by: smn 2004-06-06 1:43:50 AM |