Mixed media: Divisions over democracy

CREDIBILITY PROBLEMS BEIRUT VIEW: This is an election of and by invisible ghosts, and every possible result is riddled with problems. The election is badly hampered from the start by its illegitimate lineage. It has been spawned by an American-led military invasion, incubated in an American-led military occupation and administration, designed by a mildly credible condominium of Iraqi and UN officials working - literally and figuratively - under the gun of the United States, and administered by an interim Iraqi administration that has "made in Washington" stamped all over it.

* The Daily Star, Lebanon

CANADIAN CONSULTANTS: Many Americans are doubtful over the consequence of Iraq's parliamentary election, according to a poll by Harris Interactive showing 41 per cent of respondents believe the ballot will not lead to a reasonably free and democratic system of government and that 47 per cent think the elected government will not be a model which will help spread freedom and democracy in the Middle East.

* Centre for Public Opinion and Democracy

LEFT-WING NEWSPAPER: Diplomats and politicians in the US, Britain and Iraq are already thinking beyond the election to how the result is going to be sold in the days and weeks and, maybe, months that follow. A British diplomat said the question will be: "Is it credible or divisive?" If the Shia in the south and the Kurds in the north turn out in big numbers and the Sunnis in the centre do not, the credibility of the election will be in question.

* Ewen MacAskill in The Guardian, London

JOURNALIST BLOGGER: Just the fear of violence is certain to keep many voters at home. "We don't know when the next bullet will come so we are staying in our homes most of the time," said Abdulla Hamid, a 35-year-old father of five who sells vegetables in Baghdad. "I would vote if there was security, but this election is confusing to me and seems to be causing so many problems already."

Some believe voting will help security. "I will be voting for Allawi because I think he can help Iraq," says Suthir Hamiz, whose husband works in the supply department at a US military camp. Hamoudi Aziz, who drives his car as a taxi while looking for a better job, says the elections themselves have brought a worsening of the security situation. "I'm not even safe in my own home under this martial law," he said when asked if he will vote. "So how am I expected to vote for this crazy parliament?"

* Dahrja Mail Iraq

HAND OF PEACE ELECTION BLOGGER: Sunni Arab leaders who have been the most vocal in calling for a boycott or postponement of the coming elections say they intend to get involved in politics after the vote, including taking part in writing a permanent constitution.

There is too much at stake, with the constitution to be drafted by August 2005 and full-term elections held by year's end, for Sunni groups to reject the political process, the leaders say, even if they are sticking to their denunciation of the elections.

* Iraq Elect

IRAQI VOICE: The only hope now is that, following the elections, the National Assembly would offer the hand of peace and reconciliation to the dissenting parties. I would suggest going for tribal sheikhs rather than clerics, since they have the upper hand in their areas and can effectively root out any Baathists in their midst in return for a promise of sharing power and authority.

Many of these sheikhs have been disenfranchised and abused over the last two years.

* Healing Iraq

AMERICAN BROADCASTER: Enthusiasm for the election appears overwhelming ... in our survey more than three-quarters of the people we spoke to said they planned to go to the polls. This enthusiasm represents a desire for change, the thrill of casting a meaningful ballot, and a conviction that sovereignty really will return to Iraqis once the votes have been cast.

Above all it is reflection of patriotism. Time and again we heard a simple yet profound comment, along the lines of this one, from an unemployed man in Al Muthene province: "My love of the country will push me to vote."

* ABC news

CALIFORNIAN OPINION: Won't it be humiliating if the Iraqis under occupation select their own Government while other Arabs, untouched by foreign domination, aren't permitted to do so?

Sure, the elections result from pressures, foreign and domestic. But the people bringing the pressure aren't going to be satisfied with empty rituals. 2005 will be the year of Arab voting and perhaps, as well, of the birth pangs of Arab democracy.

* Joshua Muravchik in the Los Angeles Times