Is anyone actually out in the field? It's looking like the only people with any sense at all are the ones who are actually scheduled to be working the polls.
I'm incredulous that both the U.S. and Iraqi governments continue to play this farcical charade. Goddammit, there's a disaster in the making because of the absolute bullheadedness of both Bush and Allawi. A lot of people are going to die on the January 30th - and in the weeks prior to the charade.
It's like watching a train wreck in slo-mo. We can see it coming, yet we're absolutely powerless to stop it.
Electoral panel resigns in force after threats:
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- In another significant blow to Iraq's upcoming elections, the entire 13-member electoral commission in the volatile province of Anbar, west of the capital, resigned after being threatened by insurgents, a regional newspaper reported Sunday.
Saad Abdul-Aziz Rawi, the head of the commission, told the newspaper that it was 'impossible to hold elections' in the Sunni-dominated province, where insurgent attacks have prevented voter registration. The restive cities of Fallujah and Ramadi are located in the province.
An Iraqi interviewed at the commission's office said the members had resigned and had gone into hiding.
Unless something's changed since December, it also appears that any foreign observers of this sham election will be "observing" from Jordan, because it's too dangerous to actually observe in Iraq. That would be like observing U.S. elections from, say, Mexico.
Wait.
Wasn't the U.S. election supposed to have some international observers? Whatever happened with those guys? Were they reviewing polling irregularities over margaritas in Cozumel?
Update, 11:40AM: Michael Hawkins also picks up on the observers scam at Spontaneous Arising.
