Catch-22

[bemildred]

Ordinarily, I'd say the confidence of the E-ring idiots is a clear sign the constitution is doomed. But I think the ruling factions in Baghdad are going to demonstrate something we've already learned back here in the states -- that even a corrupt, incompetent regime can usually figure out how to rig a close election. After all, it's a hell of a lot easier than actually running a country.

And what vote rigging doesn't accomplish, maybe intimidation and harrassment will (via Juan Cole):

U.S. forces raided the homes of two officials from two prominent Sunni Arab organizations Thursday, arresting bodyguards and confiscating weapons, Sunni officials said . . . The two organizations are urging Sunnis to vote "no" on the constitution, which their leaders believe will divide Iraq into Kurdish, Shiite and Sunni areas, with the Sunni region having the least power and revenue.

Who would have guessed that two-and-a-half years into this war, U.S. troops would be playing the role of street muscle for a bunch of Iranian-backed fundamentalist parties trying to rig an election. Even Joseph Heller couldn't top that.

http://billmon.org/archives/002208.html