Insurgents' votes count as well.

link

FALLUJA/RAMADI Iraq (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein loyalists who violently opposed January elections have made an about-face as Thursday's polls near, urging fellow Sunni Arabs to vote and warning al Qaeda militants not to attack.

In a move unthinkable in the bloody run-up to the last election, guerrillas in the western insurgent heartland of Anbar province say they are even prepared to protect voting stations from fighters loyal to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al Qaeda in Iraq.

Graffiti calling for holy war is now hard to find.

Instead, election campaign posters dominate buildings in the rebel strongholds of Ramadi and nearby Falluja, where Sunnis staged a boycott or were too scared to vote last time around.

"We want to see a nationalist government that will have a balance of interests. So our Sunni brothers will be safe when they vote," said Falluja resident Ali Mahmoud, a former army officer and rocket specialist under Saddam's Baath party.

"Sunnis should vote to make political gains. We have sent leaflets telling al Qaeda that they will face us if they attack voters."

The shift is encouraging for Washington, which hopes to draw Sunni Arabs into peaceful politics in order to defuse the insurgency.

The Baathist warning to al Qaeda raises the possibility of a wider rift between secular Saddam loyalists and fundamentalist militants, who have been cooperating in their efforts to drive out U.S. forces.

But it is far too early to suggest any breakthroughs will ease insurgent violence that has killed thousands.

Well....theres something you dont see everyday in Iraq. Instead of going to attack poll stations they are willing to participate in protecting the stations and the voters that will attend them. Thats something to look up on.

I mentioned this as a major victory for Iraq months ago:

The Iraq war was won Oct. 13, 2005

Once the Sunni's (insurgents) decided that participating in the democracy was more effective than killing people, Iraq had basically won. What we see and hear about on the news today are waning bits of irregular resistance from fighters who could care less about Iraq.

The true insurgents who actually thought they were fighting for Iraq have stopped and are pro democracy.

The war has effectively been won as a result. Just because there is still violence and fighting does not prove the contrary.

Iraq is victorious!


VIVA IRAQ!!

CHEERS! To all the brave men and women of the coalition and ISF who are responsible for this victory.

[edit on 12-12-2005 by skippytjc]

Excellent!!!!! I wonder what the reaction of Al Zarqawi will be, if there is one. Who knows? But its a good sign that they want to participate in the political process. Once they get a taste of it, I think everything will be fine. These guys should also join the Army, all that experience could do it some good.

Originally posted by ludaChris
Excellent!!!!! I wonder what the reaction of Al Zarqawi will be, if there is one. Who knows?

Something about calling the elections Satanic and not Allah's view. Its suppose to be based on Koran and not the peoples right to vote.

This isnt the end though. We still have at least 2 more years of attacks and fighting left. The good thing is this could be the sign that we were looking for and the tide has already changed. Lets all hope and pray that things continue to progress.

Hooah, to the men and woman on the ground.

[edit on 12-12-2005 by Dronetek]

Hum . . . how investing in some piece of land in Iraq you people, you can even get a nice lot with oil and start the venture in bringing Iraq Economy to high standards now that Iraq has been won.

Wow, may as well break out the drinks and cake, huh? Iraq is safe now. No more threats of civil war, no more killings. It's all just going to be one happy democratic circle jerk.


If this is a turning point, I have some news for you.

They have not done this BECAUSE of the US invasion, they have done this DESPITE the US invasion.

So before you go congratulating your "men and women on the ground", it is due to IRAQIS that this is coming about. You know, the 25 million people who LIVE there?

Not the soldiers, the people.

Sorry to burst your collective bubbles.

Originally posted by skippytjc

Iraq is victorious!

Chickens. Eggs. Hatched.

You know going back to the tittle of the thread I have to point out that in reality Insurgents that Are Iraqis have a right to vote just because they are against the US invasion and domination of the Shiites with US control and protection does not make then any less Iraqis actually they are actually fighting for what they think is an injustice.

By the way the Bush propaganda team is really working like a charm.