It takes little effort to satisfy Americans and that was very clear on January 30, 2005. CNN is a great example of what happens when the media spits in the face at the idea of being independent. What I saw on television was a cheerleading squad trying to show the world that America was right all along. They tried to convey to the world that, "This is what we were talking about."
Why is it American's, democrats & republicans alike, accept these propaganda pieces without asking any questions?
Christiane Amanpour reported that the Iraqis she talked to all decided to vote for the secular Shite group of Allawi. If you believe that then I have some snow to sell you in Florida. The likelihood of an occupying force hand picking a leader, in two separate countries mind you, and both those leaders, in the end, happened to be EXACTLY who the people of the occupied country wanted is at best unlikely.
Among some of the news that the American the media deemed unimportant was the fact that the country had to be completely shut down in order for people to be safe enough to go to the polls. Warplanes flying over head, numerous checkpoints at polling stations and snipers on rooftops; Am I ignorant to think that that signals a country that is not exactly ready to vote?
There were early claims that 72% of eligible Iraqis voted, interestingly enough that is a perfect claim, simultaneously excluding the 28% percent of Sunnis and showing the blatant attempt claiming, "The best anyone could have hoped for". I am not one to believe in these types of coincidences.
CNN, for some reason, refuses to even acknowledge that a vast majority of Sunnis didn't vote an even greater portion of Christians in the nation had nothing for which to vote, Kurds are voting for autonomy from Baghdad and Shites are voting because they can't lose. How long will American's allow themselves to be taking on this ride of lies and trips of disinformation? I suppose it shouldn't be too surprising based on what was witnessed by the world in American elections. Who cares about policies and differences by the candidates; the only thing that really matters is how can we ensure that the truth is never heard or is of very little importance to the people. It is possible that this is the reason that anonymous elections seem, to Americans, a giant step forward towards Americanized Democracy.
In the end nothing has changed. Stalin laid it out nicely when he said, [It doesn't matter who votes, it only matters who counts the votes. The people need only to think that they are making a difference]. The Iraqis will soon find out that elections don't mean electricity, water, safety, security nor does it mean an end to occupation. This is indeed a morbid time to be alive; this day that America removes the chains of open occupation and uses their brains; simple mind manipulation techniques designed to show the people that they can make a difference.
Maybe it is not good to be too pessimistic and to always look at the bad side of things. After all elections in the Middle East is a good sign right? Well, there have long since been elections, on a far more advanced platform than what was witnessed in Iraq, in Iran but for some reason that is not a triumph of Democracy to America. Palestine has long since had elections, unfortunately the leader they chose was, "not a partner for peace". Let the truth be told; free press in America is dead. Independent media in America is dead. And finally, Democracy to America means simply this, if you're pro American you are an acceptable government and yours is the will of the people.
It's always interesting to look at the world and realize that if any one of the countries of the "coalition" operated based on the will of the people they're would be an even weaker coalition than there is today. That is a discussion for another time.
Maybe I'm wrong but I would think that the elections in Iraq were equivalent to the pledge of alliance to Saddam Hussein elections; Great turnout, nice photo ops and very little change.