01-18-2005, 03:37 PM
“Sunday 30 January will be the day when myth and reality come together with - I fear - an all too literal bang. The magic date upon which Iraq is supposed to transform itself into a democracy will no doubt be greeted as another milestone in America's adventure and, I suspect, another "great day for Iraq" by Lord Blair of Kut al-Amara. He, of course, doesn't have to be blown up in the polling stations or torn to pieces by suicide bombers on the way home. The "martyrs of democracy", as I am sure the dead will be feted, will be those Iraqis who have decided to go along with an election so physically dangerous that the international observers will be ‘observing’ the poll from Amman. – Robert Fisk”
However, to the vast Iraqi majority - it can seem as if the poll is being held more for the benefit of foreign political agendas - not least those of Tony Blair and George Bush, but for Israel - than for the well-being of innocent Iraqis.