The Shiite coalition won the largest number of votes. WaPo.
No surprise here. Well, maybe there is a lucky surprise that they only won 47.6% of the vote and therefore don’t have a majority. And furthermore, the Kurds seem to be overrepresented and that’s a good thing because they’re the only group in Iraq that genuinely likes us. However, Shiites are represented in some of the parties compromising the other 52.4%, so they will have the most powerful influence in the new government.
The thought occurred to me that the reason why the Shiites have been going along with us recently is that they have enough sense to understand that the elections we supported are putting them in power. Once they’re firmly in charge, they may very well turn hostile.
Ya think?
Posted by: David | February 13, 2005 at 11:18 AM
when are you going to be taking votes, LG? we're all eager to hear who's the winner of the russian mail-order bride sweepstakes.
Posted by: Viktoriya | February 13, 2005 at 11:36 AM
Shiite, beeyatch.
Posted by: dadahead | February 13, 2005 at 01:37 PM
I'll marry you, Viktoriya. You don't even have to pretend you're a libertarian any more... well, except in bed.
Posted by: Sean Lynch | February 13, 2005 at 02:07 PM
Ah, libertarian gal, dear heart, we had some fun, but alas, the truth has come out.
http://catallarchy.net/blog/archives/2005/02/13/libertarian-girl-mystery
Posted by: Scott Scheule | February 13, 2005 at 02:43 PM
Somehow I don’t think LG is a Russian mail order bride, though maybe he/she stole the picture from a Russian mail bride site. On the other hand, maybe the Russian mail order bride site stole the picture from LG.
The US and Britain have reminded the Shiites that they refused to co-operate with the British in the 1920s and so Britain put the Sunnis in charge of Iraq. This time the Shiites have co-operated, knowing that they are 60% of the population and in a one person, one vote election they will control Iraq.
Most people expect that the Shiite religious parties, that all together have around 52% of the seats counting some of the fringe parties, to start pushing for Shariah (Islamic) law. The Kurds with 26% of the seats are opposed to Shariah law, as are Allawi’s party with about 13 of the seats. The Kurds would probably accept a compromise where each province could decide whether they want to adopt Shariah law. This would allow the Kurds to adopt civil law, while most of the rest of Iraq adopted Shariah law.
Unfortunately, having invaded Iraq in the name of democracy, there is little that the US can do, if the Iraqi people vote for Shariah law, even though Shariah law is one of the main aims of al-Qaeda and similar Islamic fundamentalist terrorist organizations.
Posted by: mikeca | February 13, 2005 at 03:14 PM
mikeca, please direct us to the place from which the 4 pictures (not "picture") at the mail-order bride site were "stolen". we'll give you the first one as a freebie. now explain the other 3. hell, explain just one of the other ones and i'll be impressed.
i guess LG is on the toilet right now, or off catching up on "her" government work. her absence wouldn't have anything to do with figuring out what to say, would it? bwahhhaha!
Posted by: charley hardman | February 13, 2005 at 03:31 PM
Hey, did it ever occur to youse guys that a Russian mail order bride is misrepresenting herself as a right-wing blogger?
It could happen.
Posted by: dadahead | February 13, 2005 at 03:38 PM
Yes, but it is likely, considering that Victoriya's language skills are:
English: Level 3, Understands basic written text with help of dictionary, needs complex letters translated.
Posted by: Scott Scheule | February 13, 2005 at 04:17 PM
you MORON
The Shiites have been oppressed since Sadam and his Baathist party took control of Iraq in the 1970s. They are the ones who have been murdered raped and tortured for the last 30 years. They are the ones who do believe in democracy. That is why they are going along with the elections.
Only a fuckin idiot leftist would cry and bemoan the fact that the Suni's didnt have a large turn out. Listen up bitch. The Baathist party is made up entirely of Sunii's. The Kurds and the Shiites turned out big for the election.. THEY WERE THE OPPRESSED MAJORITY!!
Since you are so cynical about the election results, I am SURE you would question the fact that very few whites voted in post-aparthied South Africa or very few Nazis voted in post-WW2 Germany.
Quit your Bush hating, and wake up. Its ok to be wrong.
Posted by: YOUSUCKIT | February 14, 2005 at 08:47 PM