January 31, 2005
The "tragedy" of democratic elections
Can you guess who said that?
The Iraqi elections were "a first important step" for democracy in the country . . . but . . . other steps must follow, including the withdrawal of US and other foreign troops.
No, that's not exactly Jack Chiraq. Just his Foreign Minister, Michel Barnier.
The elections "were a victory for the Iraqi people and a first important step, which is indispensable for democracy and for the political process that we want to see and towards which we - I'm speaking of the international community - have been working for months," he told France's Europe 1 radio station.
Since when has France been working towards free, democratic elections in Iraq? And how exactly? Like this? This? Or like that maybe? Oh no wait, like that.
He hailed "the courage of the Iraqi people" in going to the polls and said elections were the only way to put an end to the violence gripping Iraq.The courage indeed. Nice word from a guy who wanted the very people who threatened and tried to kill those courageous Iraqis, invited at an international conference on the future of Iraq.
But, he added, "there are other steps that must happen soon, right away," notably the drafting and adoption of a constitution that upholds the rights of all Iraq's ethnic communities, more elections and "the withdrawal of foreign troops so the Iraqi people can regain their sovereignty."
Let me explain one little thing Barn, Iraq is moving towards DE-MO-CRA-CY, which means that Iraqis will be the ones making the choices for their country, neither Saddam, nor the weapons-contract-greedy "peace" camp anymore.
"Frankly, the Americans want to exit this tragedy, this situation where their soldiers are dying," Barnier said.
Frankly... mind your own business and stop thinking for others like the good, little socialist that you are.
"I won't go back over the reasons for the conflict, this war. Everybody knows the positions, notably that of France.... We don't regret anything. We said what we believed and we are looking straight ahead," he said.
We don't regret anything... If France had had her say, there probably would have been no democratic elections in Iraq yesterday, Uday would still be chain-raping and killing Iraqis... and France would continue to sell weapons to uncle Saddam. So, that's what he meant by "towards which we [France] have been working for months", right? No regrets.
Barnier said the world wanted to see "this tragedy and other tragedies" resolved, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict...
The tragedy of... democratic elections in Iraq???
"France never stopped saying, in unison with the international community, that this was a crucial step," government spokesman Jean-Francois Cope told Europe 1 radio after polling stations had closed in Iraq.
No regrets.
He praised the Iraqi people for showing up en masse to cast their ballots for a 275-member national assembly, saying that pushing back the elections amid the ongoing bloodshed "would not have resolved the problems". . .
But but... we don't regret anything.
When asked if the polls constituted a victory for the administration of US President George W. Bush, Cope called the elections "a great success for the international community" that backed the process.
Huh, sure. And France still doesn't regret anything. Which means... well, you're smart enough to get that. If not:
The government of French President Jacques Chirac spearheaded opposition to the US-led war in Iraq, and has repeatedly ruled out sending any troops to the violence-wracked country.
France is a failure. War is never the solution.
(Any emphasis mine)
Posted by Carine at January 31, 2005 09:59 AMWonder why Weasels don't do like Spaniards? Some of the most relevant representatives of the "peace camp" are presenty protesting against the elections in Iraq.
Weasels don't even have the least courage to assume what they say...
France is never the solution.
A-S - maybe they're just ashamed that millions of Iraqis had infinitely more courage than they did.
Posted by: Doug at January 31, 2005 03:27 PMFunny how the violence wasn't a tragedy when it was carried out in private, or at least out of sight of the news networks. How many mass graves were created during the reign of peace?
When asked if the polls constituted a victory for the administration of US President George W. Bush, Cope called the elections "a great success for the international community" that backed the process.
He means Australia, Great Britain, USA, Poland, Italy, etc. Right?
Enough of that. Now that Iraq is a democracy in diapers, it isn't too late for France to make a difference. There will be plenty to do for long time to come. No more excuses.
"it isn't too late for France to make a difference"
Like setting up a new oil scam?
Posted by: Jay at February 1, 2005 01:08 PMHow the hell are we going to steal their (oops I mean OUR) Oil now that they are voting?
How could these elections have taken place? Didn't the press tell us that the violence would stop the voting and it should be delayed?
Didn't the un say the vote should be delayed because Iraq wasn't ready?
Isn't Bush such an idiot that he would mess up the elections in Iraq?
Geez, i just don't understand.
And one further question:
Have you noticed the expressions on the faces of the Democrats and anti-Bush folks? It is a look of shock. The same look they had after our November elections. How could Bush have done this to us again? After all, we are the smart ones!
I feel just as elated now as I did in January.
There is only one thing I would have changed about the election in Iraq. I would have had them dye a different finger and would have had them point it at all the folks who were hoping that the election would fail and didn't raise a finger (so to speak) to help...anyone come to mind?
Posted by: andy at February 1, 2005 04:53 PMJay-
How about sending some pastry chefs? Everybody likes croissants.
Actually I was hoping now that we've lost more than a thousand good men, they could send a few peacekeepers because it's the right thing to do. Instead, we'll probably get Andy's purple finger.
