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Iraq-Jordan
Pachachi calls for delay in Iraq elections
2005-01-09
A senior Iraqi Sunni Muslim politician called on Saturday for the country's elections to be put on hold, warning the results could be seen as illegitimate if large sections of the population don't vote. Adnan Pachachi, who was Iraq's foreign minister before the 1968 Baathist coup and now heads the small Iraqi Independent Democrats party, told British Broadcasting Corp. radio that a delay could allow talks to be held with those who are refusing to take part in the elections. "If they are going to be held on Jan. 30 without the participation of large segments of the Iraqi population and important areas of Iraq, the elections would be seen as non-inclusive and illegitimate," Pachachi said.
I think of it as the intransigient antidemocracy forces refusing to participate. To me, it would seem more important for them to be thinking about participating than for the other 85 percent of the country to put itself out trying to cajole them into it.
In the election - the first democratic vote in Iraq since the country was formed in 1932 - the Sunnis are certain to lose their dominance to the Shiites, who comprise 60 percent of Iraq's 26 million population. Sunnis have repeatedly called for a boycott or postponement of the vote.
Until they can breed more little Sunnis?
Pachachi warned if the polls went ahead on Jan. 30, as the interim authority and US-led coalition is insisting, violence in Iraq would worsen. "That, I think, would exacerbate the situation and would really make the whole situation worse," Pachachi said.
Posted by:Fred

#6  Yeah, Walter Mondale with Jimmy Durante's nose...
Posted by: Dave D.   2005-01-09 10:46:07 PM  

#5  He reminds me of Walter Mondale.
Posted by: Pappy   2005-01-09 10:20:14 PM  

#4  â€œIf they are going to be held on Jan. 30 without the participation of large segments of the Iraqi population and important areas of Iraq, the elections would be seen as non-inclusive and illegitimate,” Pachachi said.

Only by the exact same (Sunni) faction that is trying to disrupt the elections. It's time for the Sunnis to get a firm lesson in how elected representation works.

Don't participate = Don't get any say

Its more than a little obvious how the Sunnis continue to think that sheer brute force will get them their way. All the more reason that they should find themselves marginalized after a voluntary no-show in the coming elections. Those who embrace elected representation will deserve their well-earned access to power. Those who do not will be ground under a majority boot-heel of their own making.

You'd think that all the other Sunni majority Arab nations surrounding Iraq would be vigorously slapping some sense into their recalcitrant Iraqi brethern. I can only suppose they're so caught up in the usual modus operendi of fomenting terrorism that they've completely forgotten about what'll happen after the elections. A complete lack of elections in most of those same states might be another explanation. If the Shiites weren't such total loons, I'd actually relish this.
Posted by: Zenster   2005-01-09 10:07:23 PM  

#3   Adnan Pachachi, who was Iraq’s foreign minister before the 1968 Baathist coup and now heads the small Iraqi Independent Democrats party, told British Broadcasting Corp. radio that a delay could allow talks to be held with those who are refusing to take part in the elections.

Sounds like the guy hasn't learned any common sense after the passage of 37 long years.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-01-09 6:33:39 PM  

#2  The Sunnis will eventually be forced to understand that increased violence brings an increased response. I fear that we will have to revert to invasion tactics in the Sunni triangle before they grasp the concept: they seem to still be working with the idea that if they push back, we will fold. Once again, thanks be to all Powers above that GWB was re-elected.
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-01-09 3:18:01 PM  

#1  The Shia shit hammer is coming down gents! Vote or die!
Posted by: Shipman   2005-01-09 1:03:06 PM  

00:00