Surge in voting by Iraqi Sunnis
BBC

Turnout in Saturday's provincial elections in Iraq was 51%, according to figures from the electoral commission. This was lower than some had predicted, but Iraqi officials told news agencies turnout had jumped in some mainly Sunni areas which previously boycotted polls.

US President Barack Obama hailed the largely peaceful vote, which he called "an important step forward". Figures provided to AFP news agency suggest January was the most peaceful month since 2003's US-led invasion.

Peace and quiet mark polls
In total 191 civilians, soldiers and police were killed, authorities told AFP - down 42% on December's toll, which was at the time itself the lowest figure for three years. "I consider the toll is due to the efforts of the Iraqi security forces, and the support of the Iraqi people, which helped to keep down the terror," defence ministry spokesman Maj Gen Mohammad al-Askari told AFP.
"This toll is the lowest since 2003," he said.

Sharp rise
Turnout in Saturday's vote was 51% - lower than the 55.7% seen in 2005 polls, the Independent High Electoral Commission said on Sunday.
The figure was lower than some predictions of about 60%.

IRAQI ELECTIONS
2003: US appoints Governing Council
2004: Governing Council elects interim government
Aug 2004: National conference elects interim national assembly
Jan 2005: First general elections for transitional national assembly and provincial councils - Sunnis boycott vote
Dec 2005: General elections for first full-term government and parliament
Jan 2009: Elections for provincial councils - key test of security gains
Late 2009: General elections due

But turnout shot up in some Sunni-dominated parts of the country, such as Ninevah province, where it is thought to have reached at least 60% compared with 14% four years ago, Iraqi officials told news agencies. The elections were held in 14 of the country's 18 provinces, with more than 14,000 candidates competing for just 440 seats.

There was no voting in the three provinces of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of the north and the ballot was postponed in oil-rich Kirkuk province. Official results from Saturday's polls are expected in a few days' time.
'Taking responsibility' The first nationwide vote in four years was seen as a test of stability before a general election due later this year.

President Obama said he congratulated the people of Iraq on the smooth-running elections. "This important step forward should continue the process of Iraqis taking responsibility for their future," he said in a statement.

Mr Obama urged the newly elected councils to "get seated, select new governors, and begin work on behalf of the Iraqi people who elected them".
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki called the polls "a victory for all the Iraqis".

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Wow if it keeps going in this direction some liberals heads are going to explode...

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Why? As soon as the Iraqis vote, we can invade the next country in our pursuit of messianic democracy. Of course, by the time we're done with that, we may have to come back to Iraq.

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1984 300TD

gee, only 191 deaths. that's normal. here in the usa, with four times the population, that would be equivalent to 764 deaths. yes, democracy marches on, smoothly and swimmingly.

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"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

There were 14055 murders in the US in 2007; that's without a war going on inside our borders. Things in Iraq are getting better, much to the chagrin of the left. When a working government is in place and the country can defend itself and our troops are gone, the left will credit Obama.

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1993 300E 2.8 185k miles
2006 Mustang Convertible 4.0 Eaton Supercharged

A sunni disposish will always see you through
When up above the skies are black instead of being blue
Mr. Trouble makes our faces roll on not a smile
Without his saying 'so long' (I'm on my way!)

It really doesn't pay to be a gloomy pill
It's absolutely most ridic, positively sil,
The rain may pitter patter
It really doesn't matter
For life can be delish
with a sunni disposish!

It really doesn't pay to be a gloomy pill
It's absolutely most ridic, positively sil,
The rain may pitter patter
It really doesn't matter
For life can be delish
With a sunni disposish!

__________________

uh..

who cares what the left says?
iraq's population is 29 million (my error) so extrapolate to 1,910 murders (we have ten times the population) per month, 20,000+per year. (and this after 600,00 over the last six years?)

what planet are you living on?
who started the war, under false pretenses?
who has now created another shia run contry, right next to iran?
who will pay for the ultimate cost of the war ($2 trillion)?

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"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

mmmm, Could be!

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"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

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