Via Powerline, these poll results of Iraqis translated from the Arabic newspaper Alsharq Alausat.
72.4 % of all of those polled said they would participate in the elections.
97% of Iraqis in Kurdistan said they would participate in the elections.
96% of Iraqis in the southern provinces (mainly Shiite areas) said they would participate in the elections.
33% of Iraqis in the central provinces (Sunni Area) said they would participate in the elections.
10% of Iraqis in Central provinces (Sunni Area) said they have not yet made their mind if they were going to vote or not.
62.1% of those polled said that the elections will be neutral and free.
17.8% said elections will not be neutral and free.
66% said that the elections must take place under current circumstances.
53.3% said the security is good in their area..
21.7% said that security was average in their area.
25% said that security was bad in their area.
This is consistant with virtually every report out of Iraq that isn’t filtered through the mainstream media’s bomb-a-day “escalating violence” coverage mantra. Chrenkoff notes that “The deputy director of operations in Iraq for the US military, Air Force Brigadier General Erv Lessel… confirmed that a dramatic 50 per cent reduction in terrorist activity had been seen over recent days”, though cautions;
Everyone – the Iraqis, the media, the Coalition forces – are expecting a dramatic surge of violence on the election day, as the insurgents and terrorists put all their resources in a concerted effort to derail the poll. But that hasn’t happened yet, so let’s wait until Sunday with all the “escalations of violence.”
Sisyphean has more.
Ya know Kate, if you keep posting stuff here AND at the Shotgun, I’m not going to have any reason to visit the Shotgun anymore. You and Norm Spector really seem to be doing the most posting over there and your posts are the most interesting.
Yeah, it’s crossed my mind that it’s a bit redundant. But most of my readers don’t do the Shotgun, afaik, so it makes sense to get more bang for my buck when I can.
Actually, Kate, I’ve decided to give up on the Shotgun because of Norman Spector.
When it was a place for bloggers of note to pool information and exchange views, it was worthwhile. But it’s turned into one more toilet bowl for Norman to float around in, and I’m sick of the stink of him. He’s an ignorant idiot with nothing to contribute, and he’s being given free rein to be offensive. So I think it’s time to kiss the place goodbye. I get my gratuitous offensiveness at the Franksters forum, for veterans of the the old Frank Magazine site, and I don’t need any more.
I visit your site several times a week, and it’s one of my favourites. And of course I absolutely idolize you, but I see no need to lapse into cyberporn just yet. I’d encourage you to abandon the Shotgun and let Norman run it into the ground, but I’ll keep reading you whatever you decide. You’re always worth it.
Geez ebt here we are at the Shotgun trying to get Kathy back and now you are leaving. Dont take it all so personally. Your comments certainly add to the debate, and your viewpoint is more than welcome. Read what Greg outside Dallas said over there, that the blogosphere becomes almost like a family. Most of my time on the net I am either at the Shotgun, SDA or damnation. Anyway I am not trying to lecture you on what you should do, just offering a welcome.
And for the record Kate, I like it that you post on both blogs.