by Weixiang Huang

Created on: September 07, 2007

With the advent of the New Year, the world has entered the Iraqi election countdown. But a strange situation is that despite the polling day from less than four weeks, but candidates and organizations campaigning has carefully avoided, no televised debate, no campaign rally, or even a list of candidates to the electorate are not published. The reason is simple, Iraq, the deterioration in law and order, fear, and more precarious feeling, in relation to the issue of dodgy elections, possession of Ye Ye also not surprising. But this is not a big problem.

A more serious problem is that the elections will be held has become a big question mark. The interim Iraqi government and the United States on the issue in the election is a dilemma situation.

On the one hand, Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi called on the 3rd to President Bush, said he was worried that if forced by the scheduled January 30 elections, he led the ruling party may fail. Meanwhile, Iraqi Defense Minister Shaalan an interview with reporters in Cairo, also expressed concern about the election.

Shalan Allawi and the natural fear is justified. Right now, in Iraq bombings, attacks, kidnappings continued, civilians and government soldiers in the army death toll rising even before Baghdad governor also died. In addition, the Sunni Muslim Islamic Party, the largest political party on December 27 last year announced a boycott of the election. Analysts believe that if the Sunni parties to boycott the elections, this would mean that nearly half of Iraqis would not participate in the elections.

On the other hand, President Bush repeated again and again to the Iraqi election should be designed according to a timetable, regardless of how much the price. U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said on the 3rd, the United States still insists on January 30 elections. Supported by the United States not to stay in words: 150,000 troops records showed that the new President Bush for the election "escorting" determination. As important elections in the capital Baghdad, the U.S. military has deployed 5,000 troops to strengthen law and order. During the Christmas holidays hit the northern city of Mosul, the U.S. military is going to send more troops there.

In fact, demand held as scheduled and postponed the holding of elections have upped the real struggle is, in the face of Iraq's worsening security situation is to first re-election or to rule governing the vote. Analysts believe that the postponement of the Iraqi interim government and the United States held the negative impact may be disastrous, because it is recognized and that insurgents to disrupt elections and the victory of the Sunni parties and organizations boycotted the elections a success. According to the plan, this year, Iraq's political activities chain, "with wide-ranging implications." The transitional parliament in January elections if delayed, is likely to affect the transitional government elections, a permanent constitution formulation, referendum, parliamentary elections and political reconstruction, and a series of steps.

If not delay the holding of elections, the United States and the interim government faced the challenge is how to the expected 14 million voters "invited" to the polling station. They expect these difficult insurgency voters braved bullets to vote. In Baghdad governor not captive life circumstances, the voters have reason to believe that their vote will probably not acceptable price to pay. (End)

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