January 6, 2005
TOO LATE, NOT TOO SOON:
Election to go ahead, Allawi vows (Colin McMahon, January 6, 2005, Chicago Tribune)
Facing relentless guerrilla attacks on his security forces and on fellow government officials, including car bombings yesterday that killed more than 25 people, interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi vowed yesterday that Iraq would hold national elections as scheduled Jan. 30."We are quite aware of the concerns of people regarding the security situation, but we will not allow terrorists to derail the political process," Allawi said at a news conference. "The elections . . . are a great opportunity for the Iraqi people to express their belief in the unity of Iraq."
Sunni Muslim leaders worry that if the vote goes ahead, the only unity will be Shi'ite voters unifying behind Shi'ite candidates and Kurds unifying behind Kurds. With the worst violence ravaging predominantly Sunni areas, the concern is that most Sunni voters will stay home out of fear or dismay.
Many Sunnis, who make up 20 percent of Iraq's population, want the voting postponed. And even some government authorities have suggested that possibility. But Allawi and American officials insist otherwise.
"I haven't given it any thought at all," said Major General Peter Chiarelli of the First Cavalry Division, when asked about a potential delay. "It's clear to me the elections are going to be held on the 30th of January, and all the planning, all the preparation, all the operations we're conducting today are based on that fact."
As this suggests, the Sunni need to get their own house in order, or suffer the consequences. Posted by Orrin Judd at January 6, 2005 10:32 AM
As I said before, either on the train or under it.
Posted by: Rick T. at January 6, 2005 10:40 AMFamily and tribal honor are important in Iraq. The Sunni tribal chiefs must be convinced that their only hope of retaining any importance whatsoever is to clean out the rat's nests hidden within their walls. Make it in their best interest. Make them an offer they can't refuse. I think they'll get the message.
Posted by: McCleod at January 6, 2005 2:29 PMThe election must go on at all costs. Even a flawed election is better than a series of appointed tribunals. In this way, the vast majority of the country will have the ability to influence what becomes of Iraq, and the Sunnis will as Rick correctly says either have to get on board or get run over.
Posted by: Bart at January 6, 2005 4:47 PMDefinitely the elections need to occur as scheduled. However the history of the last two years does not indicate that the Sunnis will be "run over". I hope it is not the plan of the Shia or Bush that the US will stay as protector of the Shia forever. (Kurds are a different matter)
Posted by: h-man at January 6, 2005 7:19 PMI wonder what the terrorists will do after the election is held. I think right now they are hoping that their actions will delay the election. Once they see that is not going to happen, will they then get on board to do their worst from within?
Posted by: dick at January 6, 2005 7:46 PMAt this point, 100 dead Syrians would probably equal about 1000 dead Iraqi insurgents. The US is going to have to think in those terms very soon.
Posted by: jim hamlen at January 6, 2005 10:55 PM