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December 1, 2004

US Commander in Northern Iraq Tells BBC Violence in Mosul Undermining efforts to hold elections in the City on January 30

Topics: Middle East News and Perspectives

According to the BBC who don't approve of us being in Iraq in the first place, the violence in Mosul is undermining efforts on the part of U.S. forces and the Iraqi government to hold elections on January 30. This is a problem for those in Mosul who want a democratic Iraq and a voice in their country's future. But elections can still be held, with or without Mosul.

Reported by BBC News on Monday:The US commander in northern Iraq has told the BBC that violence in Mosul is undermining efforts to hold elections in the city on 30 January.

Brigadier General Carter Hamm said that elections could not be held under present security conditions.

Describing the situation in Mosul as "tenuous", he said the US and Iraqi authorities "have a lot of work to do".

At least 57 Iraqi security troops have been killed in recent days, and a string of police stations bombed. A wave of attacks by insurgents began in early November, in the wake of the US-led assault on Falluja. The police force in Mosul has been devastated by a series of bomb attacks, with three quarters of police no longer showing up for work.

The militant group headed by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has reportedly claimed responsibility for the killing of 17 security personnel whose bodies were found on Saturday. <

Strategy challenged

Brig Gen Hamm said that elections could not be held in all parts of Mosul under present conditions. He described the local forces as "the cornerstone" of the US and Iraqi strategy for policing elections.
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If the terrorists and insurgents don't want to vote, why should that be a problem? No vote, no voice. Let those in Iraq who want democracy vote,and those that don't, let them eat cake!

On second thought, do to Mosul what was done to Fallujah, and do the same for every city that want's to harbor terrorists or allows terrorists and insurgents to control their city. It won't take very long for the Sunnis to realize that living in rubble without food or water or electricity just isn't a viable option to cooperating with their own government in developing Iraq into a viable nation that helps to provide for the comfort, safety, security, and education for their children, and everything else that goes along with having a real country with a democratic government.

Posted by Hyscience at December 1, 2004 9:14 AM

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