red states rule
02-01-2009, 09:56 AM
Well if Dems had their way, this never would have happened. This is another example of the progress being made in Iraq
No thanks to the anti war left
Millions of Iraqis passed through security checkpoints and razor wire cordons today to vote in provincial elections considered to be a crucial test of the nation's stability.
Polls opened shortly after dawn after a step-by-step security clampdown across the country, including traffic bans in central Baghdad and other major cities and a closure of border crossings and airports.
By the time polls closed at 3pm GMT there were no reports of serious violence. Preliminary results were not expected before Tuesday.
"No security breaches took place during the election," the defence ministry spokesman Major General Mohammed al-Askary said. "Things went as we planned and as we hoped. I consider it a great success, like a wedding."
In Tikrit, about 80 miles north of Baghdad, three mortar shells exploded near a polling station, but caused no casualties, said police, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. A bomb was defused after being found near a Tikrit voting centre.
Up to three-quarters of Iraqis of voting age were expected to vote across 14 of the 18 regions taking part. A slightly lower turnout of around 60% was foreshadowed in Anbar, a massive increase from the 2% who cast ballots during the last provincial poll.
"We came to vote because we needed to reclaim Iraq from the forces that have divided it," said Abu Karem, who turned up at a polling booth in the central Iraqi city of Karbala with his wife and two daughters. "God willing the political process will bring more stability and we will see small people from all of Iraq gaining from it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/31/iraq-elections-politics
No thanks to the anti war left
Millions of Iraqis passed through security checkpoints and razor wire cordons today to vote in provincial elections considered to be a crucial test of the nation's stability.
Polls opened shortly after dawn after a step-by-step security clampdown across the country, including traffic bans in central Baghdad and other major cities and a closure of border crossings and airports.
By the time polls closed at 3pm GMT there were no reports of serious violence. Preliminary results were not expected before Tuesday.
"No security breaches took place during the election," the defence ministry spokesman Major General Mohammed al-Askary said. "Things went as we planned and as we hoped. I consider it a great success, like a wedding."
In Tikrit, about 80 miles north of Baghdad, three mortar shells exploded near a polling station, but caused no casualties, said police, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. A bomb was defused after being found near a Tikrit voting centre.
Up to three-quarters of Iraqis of voting age were expected to vote across 14 of the 18 regions taking part. A slightly lower turnout of around 60% was foreshadowed in Anbar, a massive increase from the 2% who cast ballots during the last provincial poll.
"We came to vote because we needed to reclaim Iraq from the forces that have divided it," said Abu Karem, who turned up at a polling booth in the central Iraqi city of Karbala with his wife and two daughters. "God willing the political process will bring more stability and we will see small people from all of Iraq gaining from it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/31/iraq-elections-politics