So... aWol*, allawi and CIA were going to FIX Iraqi Elections...

[leftchick]

Until they got caught....

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101041004-702122,00.html

<snip>
Monday, Oct. 04, 2004
President Bush and interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi insisted last week that Iraq would go ahead with elections scheduled for January, despite continuing violence. But U.S. officials tell TIME that the Bush team ran into trouble with another plan involving those elections — a secret "finding" written several months ago proposing a covert CIA operation to aid candidates favored by Washington. A source says the idea was to help such candidates — whose opponents might be receiving covert backing from other countries, like Iran — but not necessarily to go so far as to rig the elections. But lawmakers from both parties raised questions about the idea when it was sent to Capitol Hill. In particular, House minority leader Nancy Pelosi "came unglued" when she learned about what a source described as a plan for "the CIA to put an operation in place to affect the outcome of the elections." Pelosi had strong words with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice in a phone call about the issue.

[GCP]

1. Why should we be surprised? They've figured out it's do-able over here

Just expanding the franchise.

[leftchick]

3. I am not surprised at all...

they plan has been painfully transparent from the start. I am wondering how it leaked out. Another POed CIA insider perhaps?

[demnan]

2. Of course. That's how Republicans do things

you can't expect them to actually win an election, can you?

[Hubert Flottz]

4. I wonder who will win?

Let's see now, by January Bush can send all the Diebold voting boxes to Iraq!

[scoopmeister]

5. New Iraq-Vietnam timeline

It's pretty eerie, the parallels between 1964-65 and 2004-5. Take a look:

http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/extra/archives/000921.html

[blm]

6. It's the Republican Way.

.

[G_j]

7. "not necessarily to go so far as to rig the elections"

"not necessarily"

Sounds like it was "not necessarily" ruled out either.
And I don't think the concerns of Congress will stop them for one moment. This WILL happen.

BTW, They are doing it in Afghanistan too.

[G_j]

8. Afghanistan

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0817-01.htm

Afghan vote threatens Bush's credibility
Administration needs success to back claim of spreading democracy

CAROL HARRINGTON AND JARED FERRIE
SPECIAL TO THE STAR

KABUL—With evidence mounting of plans for widespread vote-rigging in Afghanistan's upcoming elections, U.S. experts say the controversy could emerge as a serious liability for U.S. President George W. Bush's re-election campaign.

After voter registration centres closed across Afghanistan on the weekend, election officials acknowledged the number of voting cards issued far exceeded the estimated number of eligible voters — and that the illegal practice of multiple registrations is widespread.

"An Afghan election marred by allegations of fraud would be bad for President Bush's overall claim of promoting democracy in the Muslim world," said Husain Haqqani, an Afghanistan expert at the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "In the absence of good news from Iraq, the Bush administration needs Afghanistan as its success story."

For months, Bush has staked his claims on a successful democratic Afghanistan, saying it would serve as an example of how America can bring democracy, and free and fair elections to the developing world.
..more..

[leftchick]

10. this WH is beyond criminal....

:grr:

[G_j]

14. "controversy could emerge as a serious liability "

yea right!

That might be possible if the public ever hears about it, which they won't.
Neither will they know about Iraqi election tampering. Serious liability? not really...

Lets face it, they are already suppressing the vote in this country.
Jeb is up to his old tricks and it ain't just him and Fla.
Stealing elections here isn't even a liability.

[atre]

15. Get this out there, then!

Email everyone you know, especially the fence-sitters who actually think Bush is honest and genuine, to let them know about this.

[RebelYell]

9. Saddam wants to be on the ticket

Saddam to Declare Candidacy for Iraqi Elections

Overthrown Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who was arrested by US forces last December, reportedly plans to run as a candidate in the Iraqi elections scheduled for January 2005.

Saddam's lawyer Giovanni di Stefano told Denmark's B.T. newspaper that Saddam decided during one of their discussions that he would declare his candidacy for the elections.

Stefano said that there was no law that prevented Saddam from appearing on the ballot. He added that Saddam hopes to regain his presidency and palaces via the democratic process.

Contrary to the statements of Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, Stefano claims, "Saddam has no chance to be tried before the elections. Moreover, no international law prevents him from coming forward."

~~~~~~~~

http://www.zaman.org/?bl=international&alt=&trh=20040921&hn=12424

[RedEagle]

11. Can We Get Pelosi Concerned About OUR Elections?

Just wondering....

[goclark]

12. :Let's fix it for the Chimp

It would do a fine job as an elected official in Iraq!

[SOS]

13. Rigged, phony elections?

Iraq may turn into an American-style "democracy" after all.

[atre]

16. That's an interesting point

How do we know that these same covert CIA forces aren't doing the same things to influence our elections? Forged memos, anyone?