AntiWar.Com
by Justin Raimondo

12/26/05

The idea that this election was going to be a milestone on the road to genuine democracy in Iraq never made much sense, and in view of the results it makes even less. Iraq is on a path to full-scale civil war, and the election, instead of papering over ethnic and religious divisions, has only underscored them. The insurgency, instead of being tamped down, now has a new grievance to rally its forces around and make new recruits: allegations of massive election fraud. The Iranians, for their part, have consolidated and even extended their growing influence, virtually ensuring, through the victory of Tehran-backed parties like SCIRI and Da'wa, that 'democratic' Iraq will soon be an 'Islamic republic.' No wonder the Iranians are now crowing that the elections were a victory for 'Khomeini-ism.' Thanks to the US invasion, and the subsequent triumph of SCIRI, Da'wa, and the more radical Sadrists, Iran is now effectively in control of the Iraqi government...

http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=8307


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp