Iraqi elections

President Bush called Sunday's landmark Iraqi election a "resounding success" and said Iraqis have rejected the anti-democratic ideology of terrorists.

[...]

While acknowledging "terrorists and insurgents will continue to wage their war against democracy," Bush promised that the United States will continue to "support the Iraqi people in their fight against them."

Although participation estimates varied, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Iraqis defied expectations to turn out in large numbers. At least 35 people were killed in militant attacks throughout the day.

[...]

The fact that Iraq's first multi-party election in half a century occurred despite an unrelenting wave of deadly attacks by insurgents is an important boost to Bush's vision of a democratic Middle East.

It was seen at the White House as validation of Bush's strategy in Iraq and as new impetus to pursue his broader goals in the region.
  Reuters article

Full steam ahead.

Confusion surrounds turnout statistics in Iraq's election, with the country's election commission backtracking on a statement that 72% had voted and top politicians insisting the turnout was high.

The commission said its initial tally had been little more than a guess based on local estimates.

"Turnout figures recently announced represent the enormous and understandable enthusiasm felt in the field on this historic day," a commission statement said.

"However, these figures are only very rough, word-of-mouth estimates gathered informally from the field. It will take some time for the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq to release accurate figures on turnout."

Commission spokesman Farid Ayar indicated that around eight million people may have voted, or about 60% of registered voters. That would still be more than many had expected.

[...]

Speaking to Aljazeera from the northern city of Mosul, Mustafa Ibrahim, an independent Iraqi journalist, said the turnout in Mosul had been "fair" despite some problems.

"There was a fair attendance compared to the expectations of many in the city.

"In general, the election held in Mosul was a surprise to all as the number of voters was more than expected when considering the daily messages and posters threatening voters with death if they went to polling stations," Ibrahim added.

By contrast, heavily fortified polling centres were deserted and streets empty as Iraqis in the Sunni Muslim city of Samarra stayed home on Sunday, too frightened or angry to vote in the election.

"Nobody came. People were too afraid," Madafar Zeki, in charge of a polling centre in Samarra, said.

According to preliminary figures provided by a joint US and Iraqi taskforce that safeguarded the vote, fewer than 1400 people cast ballots in the city of 200,000.

The figure includes votes from soldiers and police, most of whom were recruited from the Shia south.
  Aljazeera article

The popular wisdom in Baghdad is that the 275 assembly members have already been chosen.

[...]

I went over to the IECI office this morning for an interview with Fareed Ayar, the commission's spokesman. I arrived to find him readily accessible in the lobby of the building and shouting at anyone willing to listen.

"This is stupid! I don't have anywhere to meet the press! I have these men who follow me everywhere [gesturing at the three private security guards] but I have no office!"

One of the guards, a guy from Kentucky, gave Ayar a patronizing, kindergarten-teacher smile.

"A good journalist can do an interview anywhere," he said softly to Ayar, looking over to me and a couple of guys from Kuwait TV. "And I'm sure these people here are super journalists."

Another sugary smile, this time for the press.

"He hates us now, but he'll love us when someone starts shooting at him," the guard said [...]

[...]

The votes will be counted by hand. I asked Ayar how long he expected it would take. (The oft-reported figure is 10 days.)

"Less than 10 days," he said. "Maybe six, maybe seven. Six, seven... nine."

[...]

All over town there are billboards offering a $25 million reward for Zarqawi. I've heard more than one Iraqi mention that there are probably better ways to spend that $25 million.

(I also noticed that despite Ayar's lack of digs, someone had taken the time to make coasters with the IECI logo, which sat nicely on the coffee table in the office he borrowed.)

Other billboards, likely not designed by Iraqis, feature burning cars or dead bodies, presumably intended to generate ill-feeling toward the "terrorists". I doubt Iraqis need to be reminded of what dead bodies look like. More often than not, the ads are torn down or defaced by the resistance. (When I speak about the "resistance," I would like to make clear that I am not trying to legitimize their aims or means, but let's call a spade a spade. One of my favorite things to do during interviews with members of the new government is to purposely use the word resistance and wait for them to correct me.)
  Mother Jones article