Candidates invisible in Iraq’s general elections

Today will be a moment in history for the 12 million people of Iraq who are expected to take part in a general election that would make it appear as though “democracy” has come to Iraq. The arrival of democracy would be a welcome development in a land that has known the terror of Saddam Hussein. But what the Iraqis will be getting is not democracy but a puppet government installed by the invading United States and no end to the terrible destruction and bloodshed that have been this sad nation’s lot for decades.

Even as Iraqis living in exiles outside their country cast their vote, on Friday, insurgents killed five American soldiers in attacks in Baghdad, and continued their assault on polling stations across the country. The election, staged by an American led military occupation, put together by UN and Iraqi officials and conducted by an installed interim Iraqi administration, can have little relevance to the vast majority of Iraqis who are probably not even going to risk their safety by going out to vote. In a country so ravaged by decades of Saddam’s atrocities, plus the US invasion and occupation, not only are the candidates invisible, but the voters are also in hiding for fear of being killed. The US forces have stepped up security and are said to be ready in order to respond quickly in case of major attacks today. But nothing has been able to stop the violence and the increased attacks on polling stations many of which have been kept secret to avoid such attacks. But how can an election be conducted when voters do not know who the candidates are or where to cast a vote?

Today’s exercise may well be the farce of the century, which becomes all the more sad when we consider that today’s poll is Iraq’s first election in half a century. At the end of today it will be clear whether Iraqis view their new Government as legitimate, and indeed what form such government will take. Will we see the Shi’ite majority in power and how will they treat with the minority Sunnis who ruled Iraq under Saddam. And what will be the future of the Kurds who also suffered at  Saddam’s hand and who are so jealous of their semi-autonomous status? If these elections come off in an orderly fashion how will the result affect Iraq’s Middle East neighbours? These are just some of the questions that hang in the air. The only predictable outcome is the installation as Prime Minister of the American puppet  Iyad Allawi.