Iraqi election news

Read this incredible post by Omar that talks about elections in Iraq.

Clerics endorse democracy

The elections fever is obviously rising up in Iraq and the belief in the necessity of the elections for the future of Iraq and in the importance of participating in this process is entering the hearts and minds of more Iraqis day by day as the time for elections is getting nearer.

Also we can see more statements coming up from various parties calling the Iraqis to vote in the coming elections and there's no indication for who's going to win in this 'announcements race' as many of these concentrate on the necessity of participating and voting for whomever the voters find qualified to represent them.

Today, Ahmed Al Safi, a senior aide of Ayatollah Sistani announced (link in Arabic) that "Those who don't participate in the elections will end up in hell" and he added in his speech "we must bear the responsibility and we must all participate in the elections because it's a patriotic duty and not doing so is like treason"
He also denied the news that spread about Sistani preparing or supporting a particular list of candidates.

Yep, sure enough, things are falling apart in Iraq. Bush's plan has failed. It's impossible to force democracy on the unwilling Iraqis.

But wait - what about the Sunnis?

On the other side, the "Association of Muslim scholars" called all the Iraqis to boycott the elections and considered those who disobey this call as "sinners" . I belive that this opinion does not represents the majority of Sunni population but rather the "Salafis groups". For example, the "Iraqi Islamic party" released an announcement that has a very different tone; this is according to this leaflet that was distributed this morning which says:

"To my Muslim brothers and sisters:
Beware not to ignore the elections; your participation is both a Sharia and a patriotic duty.
Do not miss your chance to choose your representatives...
And don't give a chance to the opportunists, racists and those with sectarian agendas...
Let your slogan be "let my participation make Muslims more dominant"
Remember the saying of the prophet (pbuh) "you all have responsibilities and you all shall be questioned for these responsibilities"
Don't forget to pray for us,
your brothers in the "Islamic Party""

From this we can conclude that the majority of political and religious trends in Iraq share the conviction that elections are a must and this is good sign for the future of this country and will erase many of the doubts about the prospects of the elections.

We can't let a small group that's still living the illusions of the past influence our strategies; the terrorists and their allies thought that they can stop the wild tides of freedom but day by day they're getting more isolated and I can feel that they are beginning to realize that their end is approaching.

They had missed the train and their call for negotiations strongly indicates that they're feeling defeated because this is a characteristic feature of the Ba'athists; they never sit down for negotiations untill they know they're losing and until it's too late.

OMG. Bush may have been right!

Whodda thunk the dumass, Texas cowboy would be right?

UPDATE: Alaa has more to say including comments on the Afghan elections and their effect on Iraqis.

What more justification for the "Great Campaign" do you want? Allah ( Subhanhu Wataala) shall reward America and her allies for the great charitable act that has freed these people from a most terrible tyranny and horror. That was a good deed, no matter what motivation lay behind it. And one day, sooner or later, the "Message" will come also, loud and clear, from the overwhelming majority of the Iraqi people.

Now why don't you ever read this stuff in American newspapers?

Huh?