[N8 v2.0]

United Iraqi Alliance, backed by Iranian-born Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, leads with 1.1 million votes.

The ticket headed by interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a U.S.-backed secular Shiite, trailed second with more than 360,500 votes....

Linky: http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-03-voa50.cfm?renderforprint=1

 

[dan-o]

Based on initial results, it looks like we traded an impotent dictator for a government which supports current bad-boy and Axis-of-Evil posterchild Iran.

Well, at least they got to freely choose their leader and that's what counts right?

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"I think the Americans are in for a shock," he said, adding that they would one day realize, " 'We've got 150,000 troops here protecting a country that's extremely friendly to Iran and training their troops.' "

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/02/04/iraqi_vote_count_so_far_shows_cleric_backed_shiite_list_in_lead/

 

[clancy98]

Well, at least they got to freely choose their leader and that's what counts right?

yes.

it is.

why can't anyone see that?

besides, you'd be complaining if the other guy was winning too.

VERY original.

 

[MMike]

Out of curiosity, who would WANT that job? Seriously, what do you think the life expectancy of (whomever gets elected) will be?

 

[N8 v2.0]

Actually when the votes are counted, the Iraqi people will have elected a 275-member Transitional National Assembly which will:

-Serve as Iraq's national legislature.

-Name a Presidency Council, consisting of a President and two Vice Presidents. (By unanimous agreement, the Presidency Council will appoint a Prime Minister and, on his recommendation, cabinet ministers.)

-Draft Iraq's new constitution, which will be presented to the Iraqi people for their approval in a national referendum in October 2005. Under the new constitution, Iraq will elect a permanent government in December 2005.​

 

[MTB_Rob_NC]

actually this is probably better for the US. We would of continued a slippery slope if the US backed candidate would have won.

If the Iraqi people truly want some sort of freedom/democracy, this is probably the best case scenario.

 

[dan-o]

yes.

it is.

why can't anyone see that?

besides, you'd be complaining if the other guy was winning too.

VERY original.

Was I complaining or just commenting?

 

[clancy98]

you were complaining, and now you're doing it some more, and I can just tell you're about to follow it up with some more complaining. Go ahead, we all want to read it.

 

[Changleen]

actually this is probably better for the US. We would of continued a slippery slope if the US backed candidate would have won.

If the Iraqi people truly want some sort of freedom/democracy, this is probably the best case scenario.

The guy who is in the lead isn't exactly anti-US, in fact the Beeb had him pegged as not doing too well because of his "support of the US and UK efforts."