Iraqi factions have never been accused of being reasonable and rational.
I can't see that the Sunnis (and others) will accept any election results unless they win. And they have demonstrated an unwillingness or an inability (or both) to express their desires in any socially acceptable, legal, or moral fashion. That is an internal moral issue that will not be changed by any civil event such as an election.
If the Sunnis lose, the need to intimidate will not be over. Rather, I think it will be increased.
It is something like what we have here: just because President Bush won the election, did that make the Democrats pack up shop and quiet down and go home? No.... they continue to actively oppose Bush and the Republicans at every opportunity. Thankfully, they have enough sense to do so in a socially acceptable, moral way (well.... maybe not always, but at least they are not beheading people and blowing up cars).
Remember, most revolutions and civil unrest are accomplished by a minority group. Even the American revolution. It has been estimated that in colonial America, only about a third of the population supported the revolution, another third actively opposed it, and the final third didn't really care one way or another who won.
There's just one outside chance: they put together a coalition that is acceptable enough to the various factions that all feel like they are in control of things sufficiently. I think the chances of that happening are slim, but not impossible.
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