Elections 2010: This Does Not Look Good

This is getting ugly: today and yesterday three major events, in my opinion that would be an essential factor to change the course of the elections next weekend.

Before I do that, I want to say something to two people whom I talked with and insisted that Iraq is safe now, safer than ever...


Give me a break... In the past weeks, Iraq became the nr.1 country in using suppressors for assassination attempts, because it became one of the cheapest things to manufacture.

Anyway, lets get back to what I want to write about:


First: Today's Terrorist Attacks:

The first event I want to talk about is the triple terrorist attacks in the city of Baquba, Diyala province earlier today, which left more than 50 innocent victims dear and double the number injured. Yesterday evening I of the silence before the storm. The attack today drew a lot of news, maybe because of its altitude and the number of vehicles used, but there were other attacks in other cities such as Basra city in the south the day before yesterday, and Mousel end of last week?

I go back to the concept of silence before the storm: as I said, suicidal attacks did not stop all over the country, adding to that a statement by an American military official saying few weeks back that the terrorists will use new means or ways to erupt the upcoming elections. Does this means that what expected to come would be more horrible than what we have seen in today's attack and the ones preceded it? All this to keep Iraq unstable, and making people be afraid from going to the voting polls, but would this work? It did not work 5 years ago, it won't work this time either.

Speaking of keeping Iraq unstable, a friend of mine told me last weekend that in no one's interest to have a stable and prosper Iraq. Her say is based on a documentary that emphasizes on conspiracy theory and how specific people in specific hidden places in the world are running the whole world, its nations, leaders and individuals like poppets

As I said, I am not sure what effect these attacks would make! People have already made up their minds, not only if they are going to participate or not, but Iraqi also made up their mind on which candidate they think would be the right person to select.

I have to praise the role Iraqi media played in preparing and educating the people for that purpose, and I am not going to avoid mentioning the great effort by AlBaghdadia, AlSharqiya. AlArabiya (from Iraq program) and AlSumaria satellite channels, for example, where hours of their coverage were digitally captured by many and uploaded to Youtube on daily basis.

In addition, I have to bow my hat for many Iraqis from inside Iraq and abroad who are posting all kind of messages on Facebook and twitter (and via emails) encouraging people to go and vote.

Iraqis are looking for change.

Iraqis do not want to stay behind

Iraqis want to see their country recovered from its wounds







Second: Prime Minister Interview with BBC

The second is news is the interview that BBC Arabic conducted with Prime Minister al Malaki yesterday. By the way, from the excerpts of that interview, al Maliki did not look comfortable, he looked nervous, even became agitated from some of the questions put forward to him. The Iraqi Prime Minister rejected with firm tone in his voice any coalition with Ayad Allawy if the chance would appear after the upcoming elections. He also accused other political parties of receiving financial support from abroad, without mentioning any in name, but any smart boy can figure out the direction he is taking the viewer to. Speaking on foreign relations, I did not see anything new related to his government stand towards Saudi and Syria, among other countries. At the same time he strongly defended his government's relations with neighboring country, Iran,laughing out U.S. accusations against Iran for its interference in Iraq's internal affairs. Prime Minister emphasized that all these accusations are part of the tension between the U.S. and Iran, he does not share these views, but "any U.S. official is entitled to his own opinion or point of view."

The conclusion, al Maliki's State of Law coalition message to neighboring countries nothing but: screw up, all of you. Other countries must make the move, not Iraq.

The exception to the rule is of course Iran.


OK, let me rephrase what I have just said: al Maliki government will not have any normal relations with any Arab country.

To be fully just regarding this issue, I am not going to put all the blame on al Maliki and his government for the lack of popularity in the Arab world. It is also Arab countries and governments share the blame. Watching and observing the news nowadays makes things clear how much Arab governments and leaderships would be more enthusiast seeing Iraq's top officials other than the current one.









Third: Mohamad Al Shahwany's: Secrets from the Wizard's Hat

The third and final thing is former secret intelligence chief, Mohamad Al Shahwany, and his interview that will be aired this evening on the anti-everything-related-to-Iran satellite channel, Al Sharqiya.

The man left Iraq last year to unknown destination (some say he is now in London, and others say he is in Lebanon). He left Iraq after his disagreement with the current government on the way security and intelligence have been tackled, especially after the attacks that rocked baghdad a couple of months ago. Some say that this man will disclose all "forbidden secrets" related to the hidden-agenda Iran has for Iraq, and that he had evidence of Iran's involvement in the latest attacks on governmental building last year. The trailer I have seen on TV yesterday predicts a lot of secrets to be disclosed, indeed, and will have big implications on the results of the elections.

But...


What a timing!! why did Mr. Al Shahwany decided to talk now? or is it pre-recorded some time ago but Al Sharqiya decided deliberately to air it tonight, 4 days before the general elections?