October 11, 2004
YOU DON'T NEED TO VOTE TO BE GOVERNED DEMOCRATICALLY:
Iraqis Fearing a Sunni Boycott of the Election: Leaders of Iraq's Sunni minority say they have failed to generate any enthusiasm for nationwide elections scheduled for January. (DEXTER FILKINS, 10/11/04, NY Times)
Leaders of Iraq's crucial Sunni Arab minority say they have failed to generate any enthusiasm for nationwide elections scheduled for January, and are so fearful of insurgent violence and threats that they can meet only in private to talk about how - or even whether - to take part.The leaders among the Sunni Arabs, which had dominated Iraqi politics since the nation's birth in 1920, also said in interviews here that many prospective Sunni voters were so suspicious of the American enterprise in Iraq, and so infuriated by the chaotic security situation in the Sunni-dominated areas, that they were likely to stay away from the polls in large numbers.
Sunni participation is crucial to the election.
Why? Posted by Orrin Judd at October 11, 2004 10:33 AM
Jehovah's Witnesses boycott the ballot here. Doesn't seem to affect the legitimacy of our elections.
Posted by: Fred Jacobsen (San Fran) at October 11, 2004 11:12 AMThe Sunnis are angry that gravy-time's over ?
Whodda thunk ?
Posted by: Michael Herdegen at October 11, 2004 12:12 PMSour grapes.
Or like a Hackmaster +12 power-gamer trid: "I DON'T GET TO BE ON TOP ALL THE TIME! THAT'S NOT FAIRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!"
Posted by: Ken at October 11, 2004 12:17 PMThe Sunnis don't like the situation? You know what they say about people who can't take a joke.
Posted by: Lou Gots at October 11, 2004 12:23 PMHey, if the people in the Sunni Triangle don't want to be part of Iraq, so be it. Just build a fence around the area, and let them stew in their own juices. See how they like sand soup.
Posted by: John Cunningham at October 11, 2004 12:33 PMMy feeling is that they're not terribly thrilled about the elections because, among other things, they know that their compatriots are going to be targeting the polling booths with everything they've got.
Kinda puts a damper on things (especially if you happen to agree with the bombers).
Barry:
The Afghans knew the same buut turned out in force.
Posted by: oj at October 11, 2004 2:10 PMWhy? Because the NY Times says so.
Someone should compare the media coverage of the Afghan vote with how they dealt with Saddam's 1090% mandate from shortly before the war. Our press has become a disgrace.
Posted by: brian at October 11, 2004 2:28 PMUgh. That's 100%, of course...Although Saddam might have tried to claim 1090%, with Baghdad Bob as his spokesman.
Posted by: brian at October 11, 2004 2:30 PMIt might be different if Jehovah's Witnesses made up a third of the population, though
Political legitimacy is not, however, just a numbers game.
Posted by: Harry Eagar at October 11, 2004 3:25 PM