Despite Troops' Pleas, Fear Keeps Many Away From the Polls

[True_Blue]

MOSUL, Iraq, Jan. 30 -- Around 10 a.m. Sunday, 2nd Lt. Phil Fassieux resolved to address the anemic voter turnout in southeast Mosul. He grabbed a clipboard inside his Stryker attack vehicle and quickly jotted down several entreaties that he wanted an Iraqi interpreter to make from the gunner's hatch:

"Secure your future!"

"Come vote today!"

"Show your strength and courage!"

"Today is the beginning of a New Iraq!"

"Come vote for your leaders!"

Fassieux handed a bullhorn to the interpreter, who was known as "Mario" and wore a black ski mask to hide his identity from insurgents. The bullhorn was broken, however. And within the 36-square-mile sector patrolled by Fassieux and C Company, 3rd Battalion of the 21st Infantry Regiment, most voters stayed home all day.
more....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49904-2005Jan30.html

[Ian David]

1. Bush is willing to fight to the last Iraqi left standing!

Many Iraqis will die, but that is a risk we're willing to take.

Go USA!

Ahh, spreading freedom....

[Ladybast]

2. On CBS they said there was a secret to the big vote turnout--

They put up big signs on the streets: "You vote--they leave."

[theHandpuppet]

3. Funny how this works...

In Iraq, the GOP machine pulls out all the stops to get people to the polls, even if they risk their lives to do so -- whereas here in our own country, they will stop at nothing to disenfranchise as many voters as possible!

[Art_from_Ark]

5. How many potential voters

in Fallujah were disenfranchised?

[theHandpuppet]

6. Good point

And I've always wondered who else among Iraq's population have been disenfranchised? Just what criteria were implemented to determine "voter eligibility", anyway? And why the fingerprinting?

[MaeB]

8. What fingerprinting?

Are you talking about the purple ink on the voter's finger? That was to prevent people from voting twice.

[Skittles]

34. oh yesssss

there is no WAY to get INK off your finger

[Krupskaya]

4. Anyone seen any footage of women voting?

Anyone?.....Anyone?.....

Nice damn democracy.

[seriousstan]

7. Will pictures do?

[TahitiNut]

9. The bottom photo (at least) is of the OVERSEAS vote.

It's not of anyone in Iraq. Nice try, though. :eyes:

[MaeB]

10. I just watched a show with Geraldo that showed women voting.

Flip through cable news channels.

[Bouncy Ball]

11. Those pictures and the footage you saw was of Iraqi

women voting IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

People will just believe any old thing they see on TV.

[MaeB]

12. Geraldo is in Iraq. Live footage of Iraqi women on Fox.

I think he may even have a two hour show on later tonight. I checked the tv guide website and it is on at midnight Utah time.

Yes I do believe what I saw.

[Bouncy Ball]

13. And I suppose you also believe this was a real election?

And I suppose you also believe the Iraqis will be governing themselves soon?

And I suppose you also believe we will stop building those 14 permanent US military bases in Iraq?

And I suppose you also believe Iraqis will have consistent water supply, electricity, and medical supplies by 2006?

[MaeB]

24. I hope and pray they do.

[Bouncy Ball]

27. That nails it.

I have some swamp land in Arizona I'd like to sell you. Cheap.

You are a total sucker if you believe all those things will come to pass with bushco in charge.

[Skittles]

33. LOL

prayers won't cut it, and neither will hundreds of billions of US dollars, dead US soldiers and dead Iraqi civilians

[pokercat999]

32. I believe the MSM will report it as such! eom

[The_Casual_Observer]

16. I know what you mean. People sometimes believe what they see at magic

shows too!

[MaeB]

20. So you do not believe any Iraqi women voted?

[TahitiNut]

15. Geraldo? On Faux?

Well, gosh! It really must be true, then. :eyes:

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[MaeB]

22. So what is your point?

Are you saying no women voted? If you are going to take time to reply to someone you should atleast have something to say.

Are you saying no women voted?

[TahitiNut]

37. "Are you saying" Iraq isn't better off without Saddam?

Nice try. It's interesting to see people make specious claims and then try to shift the question. Let's really make a big deal about the kabuki of 'democracy' in Iraq. It's a wonderful distraction. All the Bushtards must be proud. Don't look behind that curtain. Never mind that there's no assurance of anything close to an honest election. Never mind that people are being asked to vote for "pigs in a poke". Never mind that this 'election' still has nothing to do with whatever 'government' ultimately takes over Iraq. Never mind the fact that the U.S. military has invaded and is permanently occupying a sovereign nation based on a pack of outright LIES. Let's just make a big hoorah - and ignore the steadily rising death toll, the carpetbaggers, the corporatist jackals, and the insatiable greed of profiteers.

Here. You want a photo of some women voting in Iraq? That what the following purports to show. Now, just what does this actually prove? Has anyone ever seen a polling place in the U.S. with a line outside composed only of women? (Please, don't bother me with random bullshit about 'differing cultures' and other slight of hand.)


Kurdish women wait to cast ballots in the northern city of Irbil.
(AP)

[pintobean]

31. Another

An Iraqi woman holds up her hand, and shows a purple finger, indicating she has just voted, as she leaves a polling station in the centre of Az Zubayr, Iraq (news - web sites). (AP/Andrew Parsons/Pool)

[Tacos al Carbon]

36. Women voting?

Here you go:

In Basra:


In Suleimanyia:








Nice damn democracy? We can hope.

[DustMolecule]

14. They wouldn't lie to me.....

....not on my own d*mn TV??? Would they??? :wow:

[MaeB]

17. So you do not believe any Iraqi women voted.

(your) Sarcasm aside, you don't think any Iraqi women voted?

[DustMolecule]

18. In droves.....I'm sure they voted in droves......

(just as an aside, do you like country? Say, Willy Nelson? ... just askin' :shrug: )

[MaeB]

19. I used to listen to country about 10 years ago.

Hate Billy Ray Cirus, loved to sing Brooks and Dunn in my car, alone of course. My favorite group is the Dave Mathews band.

I don't really like Willy Nelson's music.

Does that help?

On subject, I have surfed around the internet and read accounts of Iraqis voting, including women.

Saw a woman on tv holding up her purple finger.

I guess the non believers can see in the Times tomorrow.

[DustMolecule]

21. Purple finger.....Scarlet Letter.....

If the 'Times' says so, it must be true. Sorry to be annoying. You win. Carry on.

[aikido15]

23. Yeah, I saw that picture also...

Wow, I guess that means it was a complete success, one picture said it all.

Pulleeezze.:eyes:

[MaeB]

25. I didn't say it was a complete success.

I said women voted.

[aikido15]

26. Sorry, but I thought everyone already knew that.

women voted in Iraq. I read an article where women stood in line and would cover their faces and start praying every time there was a blast of artillery, every few minutes--Baghdad.

[DustMolecule]

28. No one should have to vote in such conditions.......

Maeb.....some day "you and yours" will come round again....and,, as usual, it won't be pretty.....when will you 'stop' with it all?? Perhaps then we can all 'get along'?

[moobu2]

29. I saw a woman vote on CBC today

They let her comment on how she felt about voting. She said she risked it because she wanted the occupiers to leave and that was the only way they would.

[aikido15]

30. Man, she wouldn't have said that on our

MSM..if she did it would have been edited, too much honesty for Americans to handle!

[Ian David]

35. Just because they lie A LOT does not mean EVERYTHING is a lie

They said it would snow on Friday and they said that Iraqi women voted yesterday.

I believe them about those two things.