Sistani wants followers to vote

[bemildred]

NAJAF, Iraq - Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has urged his followers to take part in promised January elections, politicians said Thursday after a meeting with the spiritual leader of Iraq's Shiite Muslim majority.

"Sayed Ali al-Sistani has given instructions that people be informed about the need to exercise their right to vote in upcoming elections and to do so after educating themselves about the process and the candidates," said Abu Hadi al-Kaabi, of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), an Iran-backed mainstream Shiite religious party.

"They should know that their decision will have an impact on future generations as well as Iraqis now," said Kaabi, of SCIRI's Mihrab Martyr religious association.

The party's leader Abdul Aziz al-Hakim has met with Sistani in recent days to discuss the upcoming elections. Kaabi said Hakim had sought Sistani's advice on whether clerics should stand in the polls.

Middle East Online

[whistle]

1. So, does Negroponte agree with al-Sistani ...

...or will Negroponte send out his death squads to take care of the problem?

[BOHICA06]

2. Most excellent news...

makes an easier job for Kerry and our troops if the January election proceeds.

[The Magistrate]

3. Of Course He Does, My Friend

He will win.

The candidate Shi'ite voters come to understand is most agreeable to the Grand Ayatollah will win the election, if it is remotely honest.

Any real democratic regime in Iraq today would have to, as its first official act, "request" the withdrawl of U. S. forces from the country.

For all the various burblings to the contrary from our officialdom, the last thing the United States wants is any genuinely democratic regime in any Arab state....

"Democracy is a form of government based on belief the people know what they want, and ought to get it, good and hard."

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[bemildred]

4. He's only been working towards this since Saddam fell.

No surprise of course. And an interesting dilemma for the occupation:
Cheat and lose the Ayat's support, or be "fair" and lose the election.

Nice to see you, Sir. :hi:

[The Magistrate]

5. They Will Have To Cheat, Sir

Not only will their natures impell them toward that course, but it is the only possible means of gaining an outcome congenial to their end of continued occupation of the place. They retain a childlike faith in the power of violence to control any difficulties that may arise from the Ayatollah's displeasure, and so will steel themselves to look on that prospect with sanguine mein....

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[bemildred]

6. Indeed they will.

The effort to remove al Sadr can be considered such.

I have read some recent reports that say a number of the
returned exiles are now hoping to team up with those who
stayed home and have actual political power - in the form
of large numbers of followers - for the elections. This
suggests to me a certain weakening of the occupation hand,
as does the recent hints at accomodation with al Sadr, and his
apparent decision to pursue electoral success.

[allemand]

7. Iraq needs a legitimate government more than anything else.

The January elections are certainly a step in the right direction, but not enough. I do hope, however, that they will be an elegant way to get rid of Allawi.

I am happy that none other than Ahmed Rashid agrees with me:

"The elections in Iraq are still unpredictable given the mayhem and chaos in that country, but elections there would emit a very positive signal to the Arab world and a clear threat to both Arab autocrats and al-Qaeda.

<...>

Elections in Iraq would not end al-Qaeda's activities. But they would give the mainstream Iraqi resistance opposed to the US occupation - nationalists, communists and Baathists - pause to rethink their agendas and perhaps accept the people's wishes.

In such a scenario al-Qaeda's forces could slowly be isolated.
There are no easy choices for the voters and none of these elections will be smooth sailing.

More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3676208.stm