Sunnis, Secular Shiites Threaten Boycott

By PATRICK QUINN, Associated Press Writer
11 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Dozens of Sunni Arab and secular Shiite groups threatened Thursday to boycott Iraq's new legislature if complaints about tainted voting are not reviewed properly.

A joint statement issued by 35 political groups that competed in last week's elections said the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq, which oversaw the ballot, should be disbanded.

It also said the more than 1,250 complaints about fraud, ballot box stuffing and intimidation should be reviewed by international organizations such as the United Nations.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20051222/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_051220205359

is shocking. They seem content to say, "Great. There was an election." and go on with their coverage of Bush as some kind of great liberator when in fact he has created a total mess.

Right here.

Maybe there's hope.

Major Sunnis, Shiites call Iraq vote 'fraudulent'
Groups threaten to boycott new parliament if complaints are not addresse

Updated: 9:35 a.m. ET Dec. 22, 2005
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Dozens of Sunni Arab and secular Shiite groups threatened Thursday to boycott Iraq’s new legislature if complaints about tainted voting are not reviewed by an international body.

A representative for former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi described the Dec. 15 vote as “fraudulent” and the elected lawmakers “illegitimate.”

A joint statement issued by 35 political groups that competed in last week’s elections said the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq, which oversaw the ballot, should be disbanded.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10572818/

At first I thought this was bad news, but on second consideration if secular shiites and sunnis band together to oppose the fundamentist religious Shiites (whom I assume got the most votes again, fradulent or otherwise), maybe it could turn out to be a good thing?

If the Shia parties and the Bush administration were smart, they would be bending over backwards to ensure that the Sunnis and the secularists remain engaged in the political process. This shit will only reinvigorate the insurgency.


On edit: Oops, I meant to reply to the OP.