Iraq Elections Cacophony, a Bush Doctrine for Salafis, Appointed Royal Dog Catchers……….
“At least 36 people have died in three large explosions apparently targeting hotels in the heart of Iraq's capital. More than 70 were injured in the Baghdad blasts, which police said were caused by suicide car bombers. The first explosion went off near the Sheraton Hotel, and two more followed in quick succession. It came as the government announced Saddam Hussein's ex-defence minister Ali Hassan al-Majid - also known as Chemical Ali - had been executed. A series of bombs have recently shattered a period of relative calm as Iraq prepares for a March general election. The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says Monday's blasts were obviously co-ordinated explosions, intended to undermine security gains. Large concrete blast-walls shielding the Sheraton were sent toppling over by the first explosion………”
Pre-election violence in Iraq is escalating. So is the rhetoric. Some of those omitted from candidacy lists for Baathist pasts were reinstated this weekend. The opposition (to al-Maliki or to anyone else other than themsleves) are very vocal in their demands that all be reinstated. Al-Mutlak, Tareq al-Hashimi, Allawi, et al have joined in a coalition that is extremely vocal about free elections, something these gentlemen never were vocal about under Saddam Hussein. That political coalition’s main problem is that its strongest support base is in sparsely-populated northwestern Iraq (al-Anbar and a couple of other provinces) and parts of Baghdad. It will not be able to achieve its goal as a vehicle to get Iyad Allawi into power as prime minister. He is favored by the oligarchs of neighboring “moderate” Arab states as their kind of Shi’a.
As for the neighboring Arab states, their loyal media are also getting very noisy about, you guessed it, the health of democracy in Iraq. The absolute ruling oligarchs, most of whom would not allow elections for a royal dog catcher, are keen on open and fair elections in Iraq- or any other election that would give more power to what they perceive as their allies inside Iraq. Except they have no real allies in Iraq. The remnants of the Baath, and their allies, have long memories as to who was responsible to their losing their grip on Iraq. The Salafi suicide terrorists do not believe in allies, they are like Mr. Bush: you are either with them or against them.
Cheers
mhg
Mon Email
Comments