Today is the day...

[Kydorias]

A very important day today. Iraqis are already turning out in droves to exercise their right to vote. We've been working insane hours alongside Iraqi police and army folks for weeks in order to ensure safe conditions for the citizens of Iraq to vote.

Fridays are similar to our Sundays in that Friday is a "holy day" reserved for worship and attendance at religious sites. Typically Islamic sermons are broadcast to the crowds of praying Muslims exhorting them to obey the Koran and to be good Muslims. This last Friday many of the sermons preached that it was a good Muslim's duty to vote for the future of Iraq and that all Muslims have a responsibility to Allah to vote.

Images on CNN and Fox News of Iraqi polling sites show large amounts of armed Iraqi police and army personnel ensuring security. Much less obvious is the presence of coalition soldiers. The country is virtually locked down as all vehicle movement is prohibited and civilians are temporarily banned from carrying weapons.

Its an exciting day for us here and I truly hope it all goes well.

[Gnioss]

it's an important day, And i wish the american military and the iraqi people the best luck ^_^

[Armind]

It's a historical day. Like Gnioss said, best of luck to both.

[Elora]

You're all in my prayers, Kydorias... I hope it goes well and most of all, safe.

[Diraker]

Stay safe, you and all your buddies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

[Kydorias]

Looks like its almost wrapped up. Lots of turnout, especially in the Shia and Kurdish areas. The numbers are preliminary, but it looks like they hit well over 70% turnout in those areas, which is better turnout than the US typically has in its elections.

The Sunni areas are a different matter, remember that Saddam was a Sunni and many of them are bitter over their loss of privileges after Saddam's downfall. So lots of them had declared they would boycott the elections, which is pretty stupid since they are willingly giving up their representation in the formation of the future constitution of Iraq. But oh well. You can lead the horse to the water...

One particulary interesting story. As you have heard, there were several attacks by suicide bombers throughout the day, most of which were extremely ineffective. One bomber in particular detonated himself quite a ways from any polling center and didn't inflict any casualties. Lines of Iraqis on their way to vote walked by the corpse of the bomber and spit on it.

Overall it looks like a very successful day. I'm looking forward to seeing the official results.

[Mutt]

Awesome.

[Slak]

Fridays are similar to our Sundays in that Friday is a "holy day" reserved for worship and attendance at religious sites. Typically Islamic sermons are broadcast to the crowds of praying Muslims exhorting them to obey the Koran and to be good Muslims. This last Friday many of the sermons preached that it was a good Muslim's duty to vote for the future of Iraq and that all Muslims have a responsibility to Allah to vote.



You know... just once i'd like to see the media show the good side of things... ours isnt much better than Al'jazerra if you think about it.


Anyway hope it all goes well :smile_ok:

[Diraker]

Yes, it's unfortunate that the US media has a neocon slant.

[Armind]

lol

[Kydorias]

Yes, it's unfortunate that the US media has a neocon slant.

I have to agree with Armin: LOL

I don't think our news is neocon one bit. I think our media is sensationalist, irresponsible, and too focused on the negative vs. the real truth. Actually, I don't think its just our media. Its virtually every media network in the world that depends on advertising as its primary source of income.

Bad news gets good ratings. Although the Iraqi elections were a success story, I'm sure some network executives are stewing over the fact that their cameramen failed to capture the image of a car bomb blowing several hundred innocent Iraqi voters to smithereens.

[Ablate]

So was it US puppet A or B that won the iraq elections?

[Diraker]

Kydorias I agree with pretty much everything you've said, but on top of that I add that the US media is so lazy that they've mearly become a right wing echo chamber.

Btw, the good news in Iraq regarding elections was all over every news channel I saw.

Also, I hope things continue to go well.

[Kydorias]

Thanks Diraker. I really do enjoy debating with you. You are among one of many Pirates with very well thought out and educated opinions.

[Diraker]

Thanks mate!

Anyway just wanna know what Armin and you think about Armstrong Williams, Maggie Gallagher, and Michael McManus. Apparently they received government money to promote certain initiatives without ever disclosing that they were being paid. Totally unethical, so much that Senator Kennedy (MA) and Lautenberg (NJ) are starting an anti propaganda bill, named The Stop Government Propaganda Act. Should be on CSPAN next week. It'll go nowhere, but hopefully it bring the debate alive a bit.

I haven't heard Bush's statements on this but maybe I'll be able to find out tomorrow. I've read that he acknowldeged it, and that it was bad, and that it'll stop, but I like to see for myself.

[Armind]

So was it US puppet A or B that won the iraq elections?

OMG Canadians!!! These elections are intended to elect a council to draft an Iraqi constitution. Check your facts!

[Armind]

Thanks mate!

Anyway just wanna know what Armin and you think about Armstrong Williams, Maggie Gallagher, and Michael McManus. Apparently they received government money to promote certain initiatives without ever disclosing that they were being paid. Totally unethical, so much that Senator Kennedy (MA) and Lautenberg (NJ) are starting an anti propaganda bill, named The Stop Government Propaganda Act. Should be on CSPAN next week. It'll go nowhere, but hopefully it bring the debate alive a bit.

I haven't heard Bush's statements on this but maybe I'll be able to find out tomorrow. I've read that he acknowldeged it, and that it was bad, and that it'll stop, but I like to see for myself.

It's a disgrace. If the Bush administration knew they werent disclosing the payments, that's even worse.

But it's funny to see Ted Kennedy calling someone else unethical.

[Kydorias]

So was it US puppet A or B that won the iraq elections?

Whoa. Please revert to a topic you know something about. Like cooking or whatever.

But just to address that ignorant question...

Current Iraqi politics seem to indicate that the Shi'ite coalition will probably get the most votes, and thus the most representation, in the next provisional government. That coalition will most likely be followed by the Kurdish alliance of political parties in terms of seats won on the council that drafts the Iraqi constitution.

Believe me, there is no great US desire to see Shias in a position of power in Iraq since they lean towards the fundamentalist religious side. However, since Shias are the largest demographic group in Iraq, it is entirely reasonable that they win the largest amount of seats in the new council.

We can only hope that moderate minds prevail in the drafting of the new constitution. While Islam is too ingrained in the Middle Eastern culture for Iraq to be truly secular, I do hope they relegate religion to more of an advisory role rather than an executive one.

[Kydorias]

Anyway just wanna know what Armin and you think about Armstrong Williams, Maggie Gallagher, and Michael McManus.

I hadn't heard about it until you mentioned it, so I googled it. At first glance it looks entirely unethical and frankly quite stupid a thing to do. I wouldn't mind seeing an investigation into the facts surrounding the matter.

[Kydorias]

Here's some interesting opinion-gathering by BBC. I'm actually surprised that anti-American rag actually had the decency to post a wide variety of opinions instead of censoring out all the positive comments.

Of course the most valuable comments are the ones from Iraqis themselves.

And what the heck is up with you Canadians? Do they breed you to be cynical naysayers or what? Sheesh.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/4201561.stm

[Roxie]

Whoa. Please revert to a topic you know something about. Like cooking or whatever.


CrushT.

[Ablate]

OMG more US propaganda plz.

[Gnioss]

hey ablate, go farm some mobs, the big kids are talking.

[Armind]

OMG more US propaganda plz.

Interesting you're into propaganda. Ablate, we've already had this discussion, but did you know your media is state sponsored? Does that give you a new perspective?

[Mutt]

While not the most ideal of situations I think the fact that what 70% of the populace went out and voted shows that there is an eagerness to become a voting nation again. When was the last free vote 1949 right? Of course there is worries about US puppetry and what not, but if the will of the people is against that, then the elections in the future will reflect that fact. Even if the claims are founded, having the processes set up and working at least once, will allow for greater input from the Iraqi people in the future.

Im not sure about the claims about the candidates not being known about because didnt Iraqi's abroad vote early in 6 countries or something?

But hey, what do I know Im a puppet of the state sponsored television (which I will take over sensationalist television anyday)

[Ablate]

We have a media?

Plz plz plz don't be talking about the CBC, which no one watches (except old folks), and for hockey.

I get all my news from The Daily Show, which is of course the only news-ish show worth watching.

[Mutt]

True the Daily Show is uber

[Gnioss]

John Stewart should be our new king.

[Diraker]

yeah watch how the propaganda infested canadian media actually question interviewee's when they lie

http://homepage.mac.com/onegoodmove/movies/anncoulterCBC.html

edited to fix link

[Diraker]

hey this site is funny, found this one with O'Rielly

http://homepage.mac.com/onegoodmove/movies/oreillyfrenchboycott.html

[Armind]

god i cant even listen to that guy anymore and i just want to smash his face in when i see it.

[sema]

god i cant even listen to that guy anymore and i just want to smash his face in when i see it.

O'Reillys face?

[Armind]

lol whooops yes o'reilly, not diraker. :shout:

[Mutt]

lol www.parisbusinessreview.com

rofl, I think you're wrong. Eyes like a deer caught in the headlights.

Isnt Bill Reilly and the CBC having some kinda of war or words or something?

[Armind]

lol mutt who are you responding to?

oh and F the french.

[Diraker]

O'Reilly called for a boycott of french goods because the french don't agree with american policy in iraq. ANyway O'Reilly has 'threatened' to have his listeners boycott canada too. O'Reilly claims that his boycot of french goods has cost french billions of dollars, according to teh Paris Business Review. Too bad TPBR doesn't exist.

Just more lies from the right.

And social security is in crisis too...

[Armind]

lol boy diraker you just want to hop from issue to issue. you went from bill o'reilly and his boycott of france to social security in like 20 words.

[Diraker]

it's all right wingnut lies

[sema]

Was going to post this the same day but then I went to a party and misplaced my camera. I finally got it back so here goes.

http://www.yad.se/pics/vote.jpg

[Armind]

"THE FUTURE OF IRAQ HAS A VOICE: YOUR VOTE!"

Awesome Sema.

[Gnioss]

that's so cool sema.

[Kydorias]

Where's your inky finger?

[sema]

Well it was a week ago, and the ink almost disappeared after a day, but my nail is still looking pink/brown if you want to see,

[sema]

Here's a pic from the party the same night, you can see a bit of pink on my finger.

http://www.yad.se/pics/finger2.jpg

[Kydorias]

Congratulations to you and your family Sema! I'm very happy for you! I'm glad you got a chance to vote!

[Diraker]

Thanks mate!

Anyway just wanna know what Armin and you think about Armstrong Williams, Maggie Gallagher, and Michael McManus. Apparently they received government money to promote certain initiatives without ever disclosing that they were being paid. Totally unethical, so much that Senator Kennedy (MA) and Lautenberg (NJ) are starting an anti propaganda bill, named The Stop Government Propaganda Act. Should be on CSPAN next week. It'll go nowhere, but hopefully it bring the debate alive a bit.

I haven't heard Bush's statements on this but maybe I'll be able to find out tomorrow. I've read that he acknowldeged it, and that it was bad, and that it'll stop, but I like to see for myself.

lol now Jeff Gannon...where does the neocon propaganda end?

http://www.jeffgannon.com/

http://www.boston.com/ae/media/articles/2005/02/02/white_house_friendly_reporter_under_scrutiny/

still think the media is liberal biased?

btw Semaros, that's awesome