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All you fascists are bound to lose
A few years ago Billy Bragg recorded a song called "All You Fascists," with words written by Woody Gurthrie during World War II. I don't know if Mr. Bragg or the late Mr. Guthrie would approve of my borrowing that song's refrain for this post, but it's what leapt to mind when I saw this Washington Post report focusing on the efforts of the National Democratic Institute (affiliated with the US Democratic Party) to help prepare Iraqis for democratic elections:
[F]or all the fears that the elections will be defined by violence, the democracy instructors speak ardently of the keen appetite for the vote expressed by ordinary Iraqis. About 80 percent of Iraqis say they intend to turn out Sunday, a polling figure the instructors call credible given the quiet determination they have seen among rank and file citizens.
Substantial evidence of that resolve accumulated in recent months, as thousands of Iraqis defied continued threats to do the mundane work of the elections, training as monitors and election officials.
But the instructors said an episode last October first brought the matter into high relief. The institute had scheduled a workshop on coalition-building at the Palestine Hotel. About 180 Iraqis sent word they would attend.
Moments before the appointed hour, a vehicle bomb exploded in the street outside. U.S. troops cordoned off the hotel as there were reports that a second suicide bomber was cruising the area. The workshop organizers were talking about rescheduling when their cell phones started ringing.
"People were calling to apologize about being late," the country director said. "The troops were blocking the hotel, but they were waiting outside in the smoke and the wreckage and the body parts."
In the end, after the cordon was lifted, about 165 people showed up. "At that point," he said, "I kind of figured there's something going on here."
Update: On one side are people distributing leaflets that read, "This is a final warning to all of those who plan to participate in the election. We vow to wash the streets of Baghdad with the voters' blood... To those of you who think you can vote and then run away, we will shadow you and catch you, and we will cut off your heads and the heads of your children."
On the other side are ordinary Iraqis who will defy these disgusting threats and go the the polls next Sunday to vote for a new future.
As Orwell wrote in a slightly different context, "I do not have to ask myself whose side I am on."
Posted by Gene at January 27, 2005 12:02 AM
...So theres an election in Iraq soon, I understand. I havent been writing about this here because Im just taking the long, long view, and havent the time or inclination to argue with people who think No WMD! is the argument equivalent of a spreading a full house on the green felt table. It may seem so, but unfortunately were playing chess. However the election goes will be one thing; how its reported is another. The thing to watch is the position of the Damning But, the old DB. The DB will probably bob up in the first or second paragraphs of most dispatches. The election went as planned in 95 percent of the country, but violence marred polling in the disputed Sunny D Triangle, where insurgents opposed to Tropicana Juice fired automatic weapons into an juice concentrate factory. Thats one spin. The election, long anticipated as a flashpoint for insurgent activity, went off with few delays. Despite sporadic gunfire marred the overall mood of success in several provinces, observers said that the process was smooth as a Sade groove, adding that they were annoyed Sade had simply faded away instead of letting her career end with a tasteful layout in Playboy. See? No DB there. Well see...
kewlhand said:I can also understand why Dubya lovers would rather not talk about WMDs.
Look in the mirror, that should be good for a laugh too.spillmind said:i love coming here for a good laugh! it's the only place i can find such comical behavior when things are so depressing everywhere i look.
Bullcrap. Iraqis want to vote. They want freedom.this 'election' is nothing but yet another propaganda tactic that only half of america is buying.
This is just unnecessary fear, uncertaintly and doubt. Our cause there is Noble. This is the merely the beginning of a longterm investment in global security, the type of security which guarantees lasting and real peace.britain wants out. they hope this election will give them the ticket the need to say they've put their time in, and it's your mess now.
meanwhile, here at home the dollar is falling, we spend 2 bil a day to float our debt, and countries like india and china are making large strides in educating their people, while our goverment does little for our education.... this makes sense, because educated people would figure out the ride they have been taken on.
this joke of a poll is second only to the american 'election'. my only question is, is there a paper trail of the vote in iraq?
when this too goes down in flames, and we are bankrupt after four years of trying to float this MISTAKE BASED ON LIES AND PROPAGANDA, you won't need me or anybody to tell you we told you so.
it's plain and simple common sense.
spillmind said:i love coming here for a good laugh! it's the only place i can find such comical behavior when things are so depressing everywhere i look.
this 'election' is nothing but yet another propaganda tactic that only half of america is buying.
britain wants out. they hope this election will give them the ticket the need to say they've put their time in, and it's your mess now.
meanwhile, here at home the dollar is falling, we spend 2 bil a day to float our debt, and countries like india and china are making large strides in educating their people, while our goverment does little for our education.... this makes sense, because educated people would figure out the ride they have been taken on.
this joke of a poll is second only to the american 'election'. my only question is, is there a paper trail of the vote in iraq?
when this too goes down in flames, and we are bankrupt after four years of trying to float this MISTAKE BASED ON LIES AND PROPAGANDA, you won't need me or anybody to tell you we told you so.
it's plain and simple common sense.
say guys, how does it feel being the only people ON THE PLANET who still think democracy is going to take hold in iraq?!
ScreamingEagle said:The very FACT that Iraqi people are willing to face threats of decapitation of their loved ones and more blood in the streets in order to go to the polls "just to vote" states very LOUD & CLEAR that they would rather have a new form of government than the old bloody tyranny they've been suffering under. They want a voice, they want freedom, and they are willing to face chilling threats to get it.
Why you liberals don't support them in this endeavor says more about YOU than the tenuous Iraqi situation. You libs are going to choke on your own bile someday.
Said1 said:
ScreamingEagle said:What's your problem now?
spillmind said:i love coming here for a good laugh! it's the only place i can find such comical behavior when things are so depressing everywhere i look.
this 'election' is nothing but yet another propaganda tactic that only half of america is buying.
britain wants out. they hope this election will give them the ticket the need to say they've put their time in, and it's your mess now.
meanwhile, here at home the dollar is falling, we spend 2 bil a day to float our debt, and countries like india and china are making large strides in educating their people, while our goverment does little for our education.... this makes sense, because educated people would figure out the ride they have been taken on.
this joke of a poll is second only to the american 'election'. my only question is, is there a paper trail of the vote in iraq?
when this too goes down in flames, and we are bankrupt after four years of trying to float this MISTAKE BASED ON LIES AND PROPAGANDA, you won't need me or anybody to tell you we told you so.
it's plain and simple common sense.
say guys, how does it feel being the only people ON THE PLANET who still think democracy is going to take hold in iraq?!
Said1 said:Nothing dear, I'm not calling you a troll.
dilloduck said:Showed up to have fun with the people who know whats going on huh?
grab some champagne oh negative one--loosen up !
spillmind said:keep up the manufactured optimism, guys! it's HILARIOUS!
:rotflmao:
let's make one thing clear:
a true liberal wants the people of THE WORLD to all live free.
no one is free when ANYBODY lives at gunpoint with mass murder all around them.
