If one can tear themselves away from the sweeping corporate media concensus of successful democratization of Iraq, on behalf of the US government, let's try to get a true sense of the big picture here.
Yes, much like the U.S.'s recent re-election of George W. Bush, a "democratic" election process was successfully imposed upon Iraq. However, outside of selected depictions of Iraqi citizens celebrating in the streets singing the praises of America's democracy, American media outlets are, yet again, not examining the relevent consequences of this latest instance of US inculcation.
How exactly is the voter turnout being calculated and by whom? Yesterday, an NPR reporter stated that there's really no way to determine who exactly are voting. The Sunni (who make up about 40% of the Iraqi population) turnout are exceptionally low. Additionally, the only way government officials are identifying voters are by regional turnout.
Much like the US, election boycotts in Iraq are predictably under-reported. According to
Al-Jazzera.net, "Most citizens interviewed by the journalist said the elections reflected nothing but the will of the United States and was for its own interests."
Other questions not being examined:
- Who exactly are the candidates up for elections?
- Under who's constitution are the elections being conducted, if at all?
- What is the long-term constitutional framework for Iraq and who finalizes it?
- Why hasn't the US clearly defined their idea of sovereignty for Iraq?
- Does the US really believe that free-thing citizens of this world believe that the US's goal is to leave Iraq and its natural resources to Iraq to govern without the US?
If the US government and its corporate media are already claiming a victory over an election that has not yet been legitimized by the world community, we are a long way from getting answers to these crucial fundamental questions. The United States is the last country to be claiming victory over officiating a legitimate electoral process.
