Over the last 10 days the Independent Election Commission and UN representatives have been reviewing the votes in the recent Constitutional Referendum, and today they certified the results and the passage of the Constitution.
There had been some concerns about the extremely high turnout and polarized results in some provinces, but auditors have confirmed that these results appear to be legitimate if somewhat unexpected. The Constitution failed to pass in only two of the provinces, but in those Sunni dominated areas the vote went overwhelmingly against the Constitution even though it passed with a 78% majority nationwide.
UN representative Carina Perelli commented:
- "It has been audited, controlled - it has been done really in a very professional way. The result is accurate. It has been checked according to the processes that we all follow when we have elections."
The strong oppositon in the heavily Sunni areas of the country suggests that they will be a source of ongoing trouble, but as a positive counterpoint, in response to the certification of the election, three major Sunni political parties today announced the formation of the Iraqi Concord Front a new coalition party which will participate in the next series of elections. They pledged to support the constitution, even though they opposed it, and to work to bring rebellious Sunnis into the political process.
In the days leading up to the referendum and during the actual vote, reporter Michael Yon was in a unique position to observe the voting process. He travelled around the country with Command Sergeant Major Jeffrey Mallenger (the highest ranking US non-commissioned officer in Iraq) who was overseeing coalition forces maintaining security during the voting. His day by day account of his experiences offers a unique insight into how the remarkably orderly and successful referendum came off, and a great look at conditions in Iraq and among coalition and Iraqi military forces during this period. It's not at all the picture you'd expect. The report has been excerpted in several magazines and newspapers, but you can read the whole thing at www.michaelyon.com. There's also an interesting interview with Michael Yon at TechCentral Station.
The next big event in the political process in Iraq is the Parliamentary Election scheduled for December 15th, which will set up the new government under the recently passed Constitution. The relatively non-violent character of the referendum vote and the increasing involvement of all factions in the political process suggests that this next election should put Iraq on the road towards stability and increasing security.
Dave
Article comments
1 - llumpy
I find it interesting haw the media lost all interest in this story when it became clear there was no fraud and almost no violence. The only mention of the enormously significant certification of the referendum has been as a one line reference In articles about these sanctimonious peace vigils.
lumpy
2 - Dave Nalle
If it bleeds, it leads, lumpy. No one wants to report good news, it's not titillating enough. That's why the folks who are going to those peace vigils have such a warped view of what's going on in Iraq. All they hear is the bad news with none of the good and they're too self-centered to think of Iraqis or any foreigners as real people with the same hopes and dreams as Americans have.
Dave
3 - Shark
"...this next election should put Iraq on the road towards stability and increasing security."
Cue Dave "Gypsy" Nalle to break into "Everything's Coming Up Roses"
...followed by muted applause from 2,000 ghosts of dead American GIs.
PS:
WMDs FOUND SO FAR = ZERO
LIES TOLD TO JUSTIFY INVASION = **
** see Cheney, Libby, Rove, Fitzgerald for more
4 - Shark
For a concise, chronological history of the Quantum Enigma of the Eternally Receding Goalposts Representing Deluded Optimistic Milestones in Iraq, see Shark's kinda funny, kinda sad post from January 05.
...or see everything Dave Nalle has written over the last two years.
...and remember:
America, you're getting sleepy, sleepy... sleeeeeeepy...
5 - Dave Nalle
Shark, you seriously need to get a fact infusion. Go read Michael Yon's reports from Iraq. Until you do you're fundamentally unqualified to discuss this subject.
Nice to see you back though.
Dave
6 - Hal Pawluk
Interesting how the hard right learns nothing from experience.
I would have thought that the lack of flowers and dancing in the streets at the time of the unilateral invasion would have opened their eyes, but they seem to have real talent for not letting reality impinge on their delusions.
The "transfer of sovereignty" in 2004 didn't change anything.
The January election of the Iranian-backed "independent" government didn't change anything.
This referendum isn't going to change anything, either.
The Iraquis still don't like the foreign occupation, and a civil war - fracturing Iraq into three pieces - after the occupiers leave is highly probable.
But, at least the occupiers went through the motions, and their supporters in America will continue to believe that had some meaning.