Regarding Al-Sabah. I found this editorial. Nothing like hearing it from someone that is close and on our side.
I'd take their word over most American MSM any day. Hadn't heard anything about Biden or Luger's comments elsewhere.
M
Editorial
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By: Muhammed Abdul Jabbar al-Shabbout
As-Sabah newspaper has released a poll made on its website recently. The poll said that most of 1317 readers participated in it have put political agenda as the first criteria for voting to candidates.
The paper had asked: would you base, in voting, on political agenda or sectarian nature, party, ethnic or else? The answer came as follows:
65% said they would vote on political agenda, 12,6% preferred sectarian nature, 4,02% opted the party identification, 13,36% chose the ethnic list and 5,01 were of other various options.
Results of the poll affirmed that the majority prefers political agenda instead of other options concerning ethnic, party or sects.
Hence, Iraqi voter looks for political view and is not led mechanically into the party, sect or ethnic trends. This means that majority of Iraqis have liberated off inherited traditions of ethnic or sectarian loyalty, which are not rejected options rather than being rare in democratic process that supposes other influences.
Anyhow, it is high level position for the Iraqi voter and puts big tasks on the candidates' burden, one of which is addressing the voter through the political agenda not through ethnic, sectarian, religious or tribal influences.
A large number of candidates and lists reflect many programs and political views, while other traditional loyalties would not embody the political views rather than inherited traditional loyalty.
It is worth mentioning that large number of lists and candidates though it is a positive sense does not reflect variety in political agenda, whereas many names, titles and general trends of political views have similar sense that nod to other influences away off political views.
BLAIR IN BAGHDAD, $2500 US FOR EACH FALLUJA FAMILY
Baghdad, Dec. 22 p1
British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived in Baghdad in his first sudden visit to Iraq.
In press conference held in Baghdad with Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, who was the first hand to receive him in the Baghdad Airport, Blair said that fierce battle between democracy and terror is going on, while "we face big challenges in Iraq".
He added " we are building Iraqi security forces which fastens foreign forces departure off Iraq.
Responding to a question of whether it is deserving collapse of many Iraqi victims, Blair said when UI see Iraqis determined to achieve democracy and sacrifice their lives I realize that we march the right way, and those who have been killed in Iraq were because of terror and those who work for elections are heroes.
Allawi replied that Iraqis appreciate British sacrifices and services in Iraq saying he is looking forward upcoming elections hoping that all Iraqis would participate in the political process.
He added that he had made contacts with all sides of the Iraqi society and tribes urging them to participate in the elections.
On the other hand the Independent Higher Commission for Elections declared that it has prepared seven thousand electoral centers.
In Falluja, Iraqi government said it has allocated 2500 US dollars for each family in the light of rebuilding the city under the term of construction drive for the city.
Ashref Qadhi, the UN envoy to Iraq said that it is natural to see different views in Iraq and that commitment in of reconstruction in Iraq is on the burden of all Iraqis.
VOTING STARTS MINUTE AFTER SUNRISE, ENDS 33 MINUTES BEFORE SUNSET ON 30TH JAN
Baghdad, Dec 22, P2
Voting scheduled on 30th January is the 1st of its kind run in Iraq sine more than half century. It will be started a minute after sunrise and ended 33 minutes before sunset on January 30th.
Dr. Fareed Ayaar the official spokesman of the electoral commission depicted the view of elections day as saying that voting starts on 7:00 a.m , ends on 5:00 p.m .
This period will make available for employees checking all identity cards of the voters. Around 500 employees appointed in each polling center for this purpose. All voters can vote during hours of the day.
He added that in charge of elections or the employees should be attended at the polling centers before 7:00 a.m. as they should stay at polling centers after the close of these centers to count voters.
Spokesman clarified that ballots will include several information such as electoral independent commission's logo for electing national assembly, provinces' council and Kurdistan national assembly besides other information for the voter regards signing the ballot – name of each political entity or coalition competing in the elections, a number was specified through the lotto held in the convention center on 20th December.
"For distinguishing ballots in terms of logistic, electoral side for the voters, ballots will be printed in different colors for elections of provinces councils, Kurdistan national assembly and national society" Ayaar said.
Ballots are to include as large numbers as possible of the elements in both Arabic and Kurdish languages.
US LEGISLATORS PREDICT ELECTIONS HEADS IRAQ TOWARDS DEMOCRACY
Baghdad, Dec 22, P2
Prominent US legislators at US Senate predict Iraq will witness progress in realizing democracy, after parliament elections scheduled in Iraq on January 2005. Notably ,republican senator Richard Lugar from Nivada , and prominent member of democratic party Jo Byden from Dilawer , have discussed Iraq's cause in a T. V interview in which other two important Senator members joined them .Byden predicts Iraqi election will bring about surprise " We expect electing some independents". It is practically impossible the list of majority Shiites prevail in Kurdistan region.
" I deem some Sunni members realize a decision make them inevitably participate in the elections" Byden said. Adding " I don’t think the Iraqi elected government is headed by clergymen" .
"Democratic effects of the elections may spread to neighboring countries’ Lugar" said." "Hopefully, democracy in Iraq will offer an example to follow or at least a start to follow by Iranians particularly the youth".
OIL MINISTER: BAGHDAD A VICTIM FOR FRIGHTFUL PLAN TO SEPARATE IT FROM ENERGY SOURCES
Baghdad, Dec 22, P3
The Oil Minister said that the terrorist acts which targeted the oil installations had succeeded in imposing a blockade on energy resources in what concerning Baghdad that blockade was the most distinguished elements behind fuel crisis in addition to smuggling processes, bad consumption beside that most oil industry facilities are became ancient.
In an elaborated speech with Editor-in-Chief Mohammed Abdul Jabbar al-Shaboot , Oil Minister Thamer al-Ghadhban said that around 240 terrorist acts have been targeted the oil facilities and took place between last Nov and current Dec, causing many damages costed 7 billions and 10 millions dollars besides to the huge losses in productive energy.
Al-Ghadhban clarified that Baghdad and allover Iraqi provinces have been a target for a terrible political and military scheme to separate Iraq from energy sources as well as aiming to abort the political process and failed efforts of reconstruction drive and entering into the political process under the conditions stipulated by owners of this scheme whom most of them are from the remnants of the former regime elements who cooperated with the religious extremists outside Iraq.
He said that these reasons had caused a big crisis in fuels most Iraqis are severely suffering from it now, referring that the bad consumption of fuel has deepened it besides the large numbers of cars which entered Iraq recently which their numbers reach to 800,000 a matter that makes the local consumption larger than the production energies which beginning to have low levels.
Al-Ghadhban added that citizens are not shouldered their responsibilities towards rationalizing using fuel and not dealing with the crisis in a proper way, yet they formed a squeezing reason, citing that smuggling oil outside Iraq or to the black market had been by several gangs which pushed by profits gained by differences of the official fuel prices in Iraq and comparing them with prices in the neighboring countries and the black market.
He said that these gangs have used all means to obtain fuel in order to smuggle it outside Iraq, the process had been done either by taking oil from oil storages or stations or through making holes in the transferring pipes, indicating that this process is not separating from the scheme which aimed to effect the political and economic process.
Al-Ghadban saw that solving the crisis is representing in confronting terrorists who targeted the oil facilities all over Iraq and through solving the price difference among Iraq and the neighboring countries to prevent smuggling oil, referring that this must be adopted through subjective and accurate dealing in away led to support citizen beside supporting prices of the other oil products commodities, especially that most citizens are taking oil from the black market in very expansive prices.
He pointed out that upgrading oil production will solve the crisis and that couldn't be done without modernizing the oil facilities which are very old and not fit for work, referring that most of them are off the work, the another solve representing in citizen participation through attributing care to the oil wealth either through rationalizing consumption or through preventing sabotage, stealing oil or the denied selling.
MODERN ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, KIOSKS, RESTAURANTS AT BAGHDAD TOURISM ISLE ESTABLISHED
Baghdad, Dec 22, P17
Ahmed al- Jubouri the chief state tourism board said that efforts have got underway for reconstructing Baghdad tourism isle. Children theatre, cinema, watering system, electricity grid of high voltage, station of filtering sewerage established.
Notably, planting grass is going on, further for establishing baths and preparing areas for volleyball, basketball and soccer. Restaurants and kiosks were also established.
Southern gate, fence and lighting system established, to set up civilized modern entertainment center in Iraq, ready to receive families coming for entrainment.
alsabaah.com |
