Violence rages ahead of Iraq vote

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=14...

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Insurgents vowing total war on Iraq's landmark polls have killed 17 people on the eve of the vote and threatened a
bloodbath on election day.

Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi urged the country's fractious religious and ethnic groups to defy "enemies trying to break us and to break
our world" and to vote in Iraq's first multi-party elections in half a century.

Even as U.S.-trained security forces barricaded streets, sealed Iraq's borders and closed Baghdad airport, more than a dozen polling
stations were attacked and bloodshed continued to overshadow the final electoral countdown.

With just a day to go before the polls, a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a U.S.-Iraqi security centre in the town of Khanaqin,
northeast of Baghdad near the border with Iran. The U.S. military said three Iraqi soldiers and five civilians were killed. No Americans were
hurt.

more

[Nitrogenica]

1. History again unfolds as we sit here and watch.

Make some popcorn and sit in your cushy chair, as reports of the dead roll in. Boy I'm glad I don't live in Iraq! I'm gonna go out and buy a car magnet.

[Spazito]

2. Very powerful slide show

Excellent work!

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NNN0LHI]

4. Yea it is. Its one of the best I have seen n/t

[Nitrogenica]

7. Thanks. I made that last year before the election.

[rocktivity]

5. Is this a cover story?

That is to say, are they pushing the violence angle as a premptive strike against low turnout? That is to say, are we going to be told that the low turnout was due to fear of violence as opposed to defiance against the Bush empire?


rocknation

[peacebird]

6. Yes. Turnout will be high in US but low in Iraq - unless faked.

[merwin]

8. It's a last ditch effort! We're on the verge of freedom!!!

[struggle4progress]

9. Insurgents blast polling stations around Iraq

BAGHDAD - A suicide bomber attacked a police station in a Kurdish town, killing eight people, and insurgents blasted polling places across the country yesterday on the eve of landmark elections in which the president acknowledged many Iraqis would not vote because of fears for their lives.





In Baghdad, bursts of heavy machine gun fire rattled through central districts at midday, and several heavy explosions shook the downtown area in the afternoon. American fighter jets roared through the skies in a show of force.

Iraqi police and soldiers set up checkpoints through streets largely devoid of traffic as the nation battened down for the vote, with a nighttime curfew imposed across the country and the borders sealed. Seven American soldiers were killed Friday in the Baghdad area, including two pilots who died in the crash of their OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter.

West of the capital, in the insurgent bastion of Ramadi, five Iraqis with hands tied behind their backs were found slain yesterday on a city street. One of the bodies was decapitated. Militants accused them of working for the Americans. <snip>

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/533489.html

[cliss]

10. As the night wears on...... Bush's speechwriters are frantically

writing speeches for any and all scenarios from the "election" in Iraq.

Scenario #1: Iraqis, fearing for their lives, are huddled in their homes, knowing that "If we make it through today, we should probably be OK". Unbelievably low turnout at the polls. A mere 2% turnout. The vast majority of votes have come from other countries, like Norway & Sweden.

Bush's Speech for above scenario: "My fellow Americans. Today was a historic day for the Iraqi people, and for humanity. What we have witnessed is nothing less than a miracle. We have seen Democracy shine its light above the darkness of terrorism, and evil-doers who would destroy the chance of these people to choose their own form of government.

Let today be remembered into all Eternity, as the World Watches, in awesome stupefaction at the Miraculous Miracle which has occurred".

Scenario #2: Insurgents end up blowing up all polling places, ATM's, a few libraries, and some huge pot holes in the streets. It's a scene from the 4th of July, except it's for real. American troops are caught in the fracas. As many as 10 - 15 troops are killed in the melee.

People hide in fear for their lives. Many Iraqis die in the exchange of fire. It's an absolute scene from Dante's Inferno. The sound of explosions is deafening. Journalists end up hiding in their rooms, under hotel beds, for fear of being discovered. No amount of company bonus is enough to convince them to go outdoors.

Bush's Speech #2, for above scenario: "Americans, what we have seen is a show of force. Yes, the terrorists are doing their best to stop a process that cannot be stopped. We will prevail. The Iraqis will prevail, no matter how trying the challenges. There have been a few casualties, but Let the Fire of Freedom Burn.

We have seen the Iraqis desire for freedom and democracy. They were willing to be brave and stand up for their beliefs. This is a day that will be remembered in History.

Bush is right. This day will be remembered, but not the way he thinks.