The Game's Still On for Sunnis--A Times

[Gloria]

2//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong Nov 2, 2005

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/GK02Ak01.html



THE GAME’S STILL ON FOR SUNNIS



By Gareth Porter

WASHINGTON - The George W Bush administration is citing the formation of a coalition of Sunni political organizations to run candidates in Iraq's December parliamentary elections, and high Sunni turnout in the recent referendum, as evidence that its policy of attracting Sunnis away from the insurgency is working.

But this argument ignores the evidence from both the January election and the October 15 referendum that the overwhelming majority of Sunnis have followed the political strategy urged by the insurgent leadership and anti-occupation Sunni clerics.

(snip)

Although it was never acknowledged by US officials or news media, the boycott of the election organized by insurgent groups and clerics was stunningly successful. Based on first-hand reports from virtually all the Sunni population centers, it appears that 95% to 98% of Sunnis stayed away from the polls.

Based on the results of the election and referendum, there can no
longer be any doubt that the Sunni community has been remarkably united, and that it has responded to the strategic direction of clerics and insurgent leaders.

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[LynnTheDem]

1. "never acknowledged by US officials or news media"...nope, but the rest

of the world went on at great length about it.

Too bad so many Americans are so incredibly ignorant. It's embarrassing.

[enigma000]

2. The December elections

Iraqis are electing members of their "Council of Representatives". This is based on districts throughout Iraq. As the Sunni Arabs comprise about 20% of the population they would get 20% of the seats in the Council. Does this not suggest that even if turnout is low in these areas, the Sunnis will still have had a say in who represents them?