This morning I posted on my blog about the fraud taking place in the Iraqi election:
After countless Iraqi citizens, American soldiers and NGO workers have put their lives on the line to build democracy in Iraq, the election is being stolen right under our eyes - and the international community is just standing by to watch.
Some of you may have read the article by Michael Hastings about my involvement in the Iraqi elections. I got involved to support an upstart party called Ahrar (Freedom), whose leader Ayad Jamal Aldin was one of the only people truly calling for an end to sectarianism, corruption, and Iranian influence in the country. He has been a strong voice against Iran's meddling in the Iraqi government, despite several attempts against his life.
And now his warnings are proving all too accurate... read more
Today - the 7 year anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq - I forwarded an appeal from Ayad Jamal Aldin to Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and General David Petraeus, urging them to take action and support a full recount of votes cast in the election.
If you believe in preserving democracy around the world please join me today and call on the international community to intervene.
Read my letter to Vice President Joe Biden below:
Dear Mr. Vice President,
I am forwarding an appeal from current Iraqi MP and leader of the Ahrar (Freedom) Party, Ayad Jamal Aldin, regarding allegations of fraud in the recent election. Ahrar is among the many smaller parties in Iraq that are urging the international community to intervene and support an independently monitored recount of all the votes cast.
Over the past few months, I have made several short trips to Baghdad and northern Iraq, and I have met with a number of candidates, volunteers, and Iraqi voters. As you know much better than I do, they have risked their lives in the hope of a free and fair election. I respectfully urge you to support their efforts by demanding a full, internationally monitored recount.
It is my observation from years of work in domestic and foreign democratic efforts that the large scale allegations of fraud are true. Based on my experience as well as looking at polling data and hearing reports on the ground, I strongly believe that this election is being stolen. It is my view that all allegations should be treated as true until an honest recount is held under the strictest international standards.
Thank you for your attention on this matter.
Sincerely,
Joe Trippi
Follow Joe Trippi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/joetrippi
This is Heather Robinson, fellow Huffpo blogger, writing. Thanks for your important post on what is happening in Iraq. Below is a link to my recently published piece in the New York Post concerning Iraqi Parliamentarian Mithal al-Alusi, who also warns of a fixed election. Mr. Alusi spoke to me about Iyad Jamal Al-Din and believes that he, Mr.Al-Din, and other progressives who have spoken out against Iranian corruption of the Iraqi elections have been robbed of their votes.
Please contact me via my web site, www.heatherrobinson.net, to discuss. Many thanks.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/iraqi_liberal_warns_of_fixed_election_W1bwDDjC4sW6PykJkaIrHL
Assuming your motivations are serious + sincere, you've got to ask + answer some honest questions:--
1)Why are you raising this issue of fairness and legitimacy AFTER and not BEFORE the election?
If you had no idea what to expect, you're either incompetent, naive, or both, or disingenuous with ulterior motives.
2)What standing do you have in international legality and political + moral legitimacy in this affair?
since you aren't an aggrieved party, and USPresident + VicePresident aren't considered in eyes of international law and political legitimacy neutral disinterested parties without ulterior motives and selfserving gains.
3)If you have recognized legal + moral standing on this issue, why aren't you appealing to some independent third party or person of stature with undisputed experience in such matters, such as former President Carter and his foundation? Granted, he doesn't have armies + mercenaries + multibillion dollar bank accounts at his disposal. What he has plenty of is international recognition, prestige, credibility and independent legitimacy.
4)Why are you raising the issue of fraud in the Iraqi election, and not the Afghan election? or the Iranian election, or the US elections?
Who and what organizations are paying you for your efforts?
Without addressing basic questions makes you appear like, . . .
Seriously the wisdom of reengaging in Iraq as we try to disengage is seriously questionable. This is an internal iraqi matter to be dealt with in accordance with their law and process.
Our leaders should do whatever facilitates our withdraw. And that's likely not getting into the middle of the disagreement.
our patroitism and nationalism and all around self righteousness keeps us from seeing the karma in this illegal war and occupation of a third world nation.
we are war criminals but refuse to look into a mirror and see our criminal actions around the world.
karma will work its perfection on us and even the terrorists but most cant wait for karma that is why the terrorists yelled god is great and actually thought they were doing gods work for god.
americans dont give a care of the iraqis and their democracy or whatever. we have become the most selfish nation on this earth.
the suffering we cause around the world will come home to haunt us well it appears it already has.
history teachs us the price of imperialism for a nation. and it will not be pretty.
Let's INVADE now!!
Wait a second...
Americans won't get up off the couch to stop an election from being stolen in their own country, much less one that they don't care a fig for.
Now, if you told them that their favorite 'Idol' contestant got shafted, well, then they'd take to the streets.
Our current postion in Iraq is the direct result of psychopathic and greedy people running our Nation's foreign policy during the Bush regime. Dick Cheney, Et al should be in jail right now.