The Iraqi Vote

Photo from Herald Sun 

It is amazing that so many U.S. citizens have tears of "joy" in their eyes because of yesterday's voting. Their glee is very interesting. This sentiment was not so apparent after the Afghans held their "historic" election. I did not see reports of U.S. citizens painting their thumbnails ( a la Afghanistan's election process) as some have done (forefingers) after yesterday. So why the difference?

Before we talk differences, let's talk similarities:

- Both elections had calls of boycotts and proposed violence,

- Both were "historic" and

- Both elections really mean very little. Kharzai's power is overshadowed by the warlords, and Allawi is overshadowed by uber-warlord - the occupying U.S.

So why are so many driven to ecstasy over yesterday's election? Why is the media falling over with praise and calling it a great success? I think many hope that the election may signal the start of troop withdrawals (based on wishful thinking rather than the administration's voice). I also think that Afghanistan was always a side issue. Iraq has always been more important than Afghanistan - Iran, Iraq and Syria were on the neo-con's radar, not Afghanistan. The neo-cons were forced, by events, to deal with Afghanistan, the Taliban and Osama. But, happily for their agenda, the public's focus has been shifted from Osama to Iraq and the "insurgents".

So why the joy in Mudville with the blue ink fingers? Why are so many citizens so excited about Iraq's elections when they did not get excited about our November election or the "problems in our electoral process". It boils down to so many being led by a propoganda machine that is far and away the best history has ever see, My hat (if I wore one) would be tipped to W and regime for creating the glee.

So why push Iraq's vote? We know the joy will be short-lived as the danger for our troops will not be vanquished by this vote. Instead this glee and focus on a vote takes our eyes off the domestic issue of Social Security reform. It makes some "feel good" that we brought "democracy" or at least a voting process to Iraq. It tries to justify our entry into Iraq (an entry that began with lies of WMD's and never about bringing democracy to the Middle East). Double-speak is a talent this administration has. And they are very good at it. It is time for all citizens to question everything. Think for yourselves.