Preparing to vote in Manchester and Iraq

Registration is currently taking place of Iraqis living outside Iraq who want to vote in the elections at the end of January. In the UK where there are 150,000 Iraqis, there are registration centres in London, Manchester and Glasgow. The Manchester venue is staffed by 250 people - mostly Iraqis - trying to register as many intending voters as possible.

This morning BBC Radio Five Live spoke to a man (an Iraqi Kurd, H.A.) - who had just registered. This is the exchange, as transcribed by me:

> 5 Live Tell me why you you felt it was important for you personally to take part in this election.

> H.A. Yes, I think it's very important just as an Iraqi, and as a Kurd particularly, because I think it's the first time we are actually participating in the political process, and taking some sort of role in deciding what our future [will be]. And also it's an important process because it's a defiance to the terrorists who are trying to plunge the country back into the dark ages that it was then.

> 5 Live But we know that many Iraqis are actually quite suspicious of the whole process, aren't they? Indeed, some have expressed fear - they're frightened to cast their vote.

> H.A. Well, fear has always been accompanying the Iraqis. They were [in fear] when we were fighting Saddam that there will be reprisals against our own families. The significance... the historical significance of this election should outweigh any kind of fears that you may have.

> 5 Live Do you really think that Iraq is suddenly going to be transformed the day after the election [sic!] - that 200,000 insurgents are suddenly going to disappear just because there has been an election?

> H.A. I don't believe anybody has any illusion on that. I think what this election will do, it will put some mechanism in place which will make that process more possible, and also it will give credence to the sovereignty of Iraq, which is very important. That is one of the major problems in this issue of security.

> 5 Live Do you have any worries about the legitimacy of the results - for example, if Sunni Muslims boycott the elections or Shias are too intimidated to vote? Who will believe the results?

> H.A. Well, I believe there are some of these fears. I hope that everybody will participate. I don't think the legitimacy of the process itself has been brought into any question. But the participation may be an issue. And I think that because it will be a true reflection of the people who participated in the election, I think it will have to be accepted as a legitimate result.

This report from the Washington Post is pertinent:

Baghdad, Jan. 20 - An overwhelming majority of Iraqis continue to say they intend to vote on Jan. 30 even as insurgents press attacks aimed at rendering the elections a failure, according to a new public opinion survey.

The poll, conducted in late December and early January for the International Republican Institute, found 80 percent of respondents saying they were likely to vote, a rate that has held roughly steady for months.
.....
Western specialists involved with election preparations said they were struck by the determination and resilience of ordinary Iraqis as they anticipate their country's first free election in half a century.

In reporting George Bush's inaugural address, the Guardian headlined its front page this morning like this:

Smiles for the family, a fiery warning for the world

The 'fiery warning' contained these words:

All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.

Democratic reformers facing repression, prison, or exile can know: America sees you for who you are: the future leaders of your free country.

You can see why the Guardian and many others will have discounted those words. They can't believe them, in view of the source. Yet, wouldn't it be good to have heard, to hear, more of such sentiments - an old language of internationalism and solidarity - coming from some of their more traditional sources, and particularly in relation to the battle being fought by democratic forces in Iraq today for the future of their country? It's a language, however, that has been silenced, muted or horribly misdirected by another priority: opposition to all that America is associated with.