TP, you think they might need a recount here?
Election all but assured for Saddam
Monday, October 14, 2002 Posted: 3:15 PM EDT (1915 GMT)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- With his
future uncertain in the face of
threatened U.S. military action, one
thing seems all but guaranteed for
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein:
victory in Tuesday's presidential
referendum.
In 1995, the last time his presidency was put to
a vote, 99.96 percent of voters cast their ballot
for Saddam.
Now, as then, Saddam is running unopposed.
The choices on the ballot for 11.5 million voters
are "yes" or "no." It's an easy choice in more
ways than one; those who vote "no" could
face execution.
Dissenters say the Iraqi people don't support
their leader but will vote for him because they
fear him. Statistically speaking, one would
have to ask 2,500 people before finding an
eligible voter who didn't vote for Saddam in
1995.
This election comes at a crucial time for
Saddam, who became president in 1979.
President Bush has talked of "regime change"
in Iraq, and he secured a mandate from
Congress last week to use force to rid the
country of its weapons of mass destruction.
Bush also is seeking a tough new resolution
from the U.N. Security Council.
The United States claims Iraq has stockpiled
biological and chemical weapons and pursued
nuclear arms in violation of Security Council
resolutions. Iraq denies having such weapons
and has invited U.N. inspectors back into the
country.
The election seems timed to send a message
of Iraqi solidarity to the United States. While
Saddam has no need to drum up support with
public appearances, images of the Iraqi leader
are plentiful around Baghdad.
On streets throughout the capital, posters
proclaim the referendum's catchphrase: "Yes, yes, yes." Students at Baghdad's fine arts school
have painted portraits of Saddam to show their devotion. Schoolchildren too young to vote sport
T-shirts supporting the Iraqi leader.
Some voters are even donating blood in exchange for a banner signifying their "yes" vote. |
