"White House lowering expectations for Iraqi elections"

[ScreamingEagle]

[variation on K's topics:]

Love the media's negative take, i.e.,"White House lowering expectations" because the White House said "the election is not going to be perfect". Like we had HIGH expectations? Such as?

I'd say that 14 million already registered out of 26 million is a pretty darned good accomplishment! That's 14 million people who now have a voice in their country, 14 million who were formerly voiceless and silenced by force.

I'd say that having 75% of Iraqi's 18 provinces secure enough for the elections to proceed is a very good start. Poor security remains only in 4 provinces: Nineveh, Anbar, Salahadin and Baghdad and only represents about 25 percent of Iraqi's population. That leaves 75% of the population free to vote!

How about more positive headlines you media people? Like praising the actual progress in Iraq? Praising Bush's leadership? Praising the spread of Democracy? [I won't hold my breath waiting]

White House lowering expectations for Iraqi elections
By Associated Press, 1/13/2005

WASHINGTON (AP) Administration officials say the Iraqi elections at the end of the month will be less than perfect, but nonetheless will pave the way for a drawdown of U.S. troops.

''The election is not going to be perfect,'' White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Wednesday. ''This is the first time Iraqis will be able to freely choose their leaders. It's for a transitional government, and it's one of three elections that will take place over the course of this year.''

Separately, Secretary of State Colin Powell said American troops will begin leaving this year as the Iraqi army, national guard and police force take on a larger security role.

''But I cannot give you a timeline when they will all be home,'' Powell said in an interview with National Public Radio that was released by the State Department on Wednesday.

Powell has said it is imperative for the elections to go forward as planned to give more credence to the concept that insurgents are fighting an Iraqi government rather than an American occupation force.

On another front, the White House acknowledged Wednesday that its hunt for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction has closed down without finding the stockpiles that President Bush cited as a main justification for overthrowing Saddam Hussein.

''Based on what we know today, the president would have taken the same action because this is about protecting the American people,'' McClellan said.

The Iraq Survey Group made up of as many as 1,500 military and intelligence specialists and support staff is ending its search of military installations, factories and laboratories where it was thought that equipment and products might be converted to making weapons.

The U.S. military's ground forces commander in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz, has said that while most of Iraq's 18 provinces are secure enough for the elections to proceed, security remains poor in four provinces. Those provinces Nineveh, Anbar, Salahadin and Baghdad are home to about 25 percent of Iraq's population.

McClellan said coalition forces and the Iraqi government are ''working to address those ongoing security challenges.''

''We want to make sure that there's as broad a participation as possible in those elections,'' he said. One idea being considered is to let people who are prevented from voting by violence to vote later.

White House officials said that while there has been little preparation for the vote in Anbar province and part of Nineveh province, there remains some hope that ballots can be distributed, voting lists drawn and polling places set up by Jan. 30.

One provision that may help overcome logistical challenges and encourage turnout in troubled provinces is to allow people in those parts of the country to vote anywhere they like, rather than only at a specified polling place, officials suggested.

In Iraq, 14 million of Iraq's 26 million people have so far registered to vote, according to the White House. There are 111 political parties and other entities competing for shares of representation in the 275-member National Assembly. The results of the Jan. 30 election are not to be announced until around Feb. 15.

Absentee balloting by mail will not be permitted, but there will be provisions for overseas voting in 14 countries, including Iran and the United States.

About 1 million Iraqis are eligible to vote worldwide.