2008 Woodie Awards
Iraqi election nears
Staff Editorial
Issue date: 1/20/05 Section: Opinion
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One week from Sunday the Iraqi people will participate in a democratic effort to ratify a constitution: A constitution that will lay the ground work for a hopefully prosperous future for a nation formerly impoverished by a tyrannical ruler and three large-scale wars in less than a quarter century. The election here last November was filled with tirades over both the policy concerning Iraq's future as per these elections and a U.S. exit strategy. Whatever political affiliation one holds, no one can deny the importance and the weight that hinges on the vote that will come on the 30th. Talk of the prospect pertaining to civil war and therefore the Sunni insurrection that currently plagues that fragile state are very much hanging in the balance now. Both of which could be either prevented and possibly put down if the process is successful, vis a vis, lawful, reliable and genuine.
There has been much buzz lately surrounding social scientists, journalists and political figures that has entertained the idea of a potentially serious civil war breaking out upon the conclusion of these first few votes. It could be taken into consideration however that there may well be one raging on right now. Consider that the insurrection that the United States faces there right now is being forged by Sunni militants, a 35 percent minority. On the other hand there is the Shia majority that is pacified and essentially waiting for Iraq to be handed to them as they would make up most of the representative government.
American and coalition forces are fighting the civil war for the Shias against the Sunnis, and this war began in the late spring of 2003 when the first few soldiers were killed in action after the end of major combat operations. However, the situation there is not as bleak and hopeless as it may seem. If these elections can go smoothly and lawfully, there is no reason to think that the Sunni radicals and their followers will continue to carry on or support an uprising. The Shias, Kurds and other ethnic groups will proceed with influencing the future of their nation without Sunni interjection one way or another.
There has been much buzz lately surrounding social scientists, journalists and political figures that has entertained the idea of a potentially serious civil war breaking out upon the conclusion of these first few votes. It could be taken into consideration however that there may well be one raging on right now. Consider that the insurrection that the United States faces there right now is being forged by Sunni militants, a 35 percent minority. On the other hand there is the Shia majority that is pacified and essentially waiting for Iraq to be handed to them as they would make up most of the representative government.
American and coalition forces are fighting the civil war for the Shias against the Sunnis, and this war began in the late spring of 2003 when the first few soldiers were killed in action after the end of major combat operations. However, the situation there is not as bleak and hopeless as it may seem. If these elections can go smoothly and lawfully, there is no reason to think that the Sunni radicals and their followers will continue to carry on or support an uprising. The Shias, Kurds and other ethnic groups will proceed with influencing the future of their nation without Sunni interjection one way or another.