andicap
08-11-2003, 12:24 PM
Date: Updated August 10, 2003
CITING CALIFORNIA, IRAQIS REJECT DEMOCRACY
Governing Council Recoils in Horror at News from Golden State
In what was seen as a setback to the establishment of democratic
institutions in Iraq, the Iraqi Governing Council today voted unanimously
to reject democracy as a form of government, citing the California
gubernatorial race as a worst-case scenario.
"The Americans say that what has happened in California cannot possibly
happen here," said Abdul al-Shibli, a council representative from Mosul.
"We are not prepared to take that risk."
Interim Iraqi administrator L. Paul Bremer III had attempted a blackout of
news from the Golden State, arguing that coverage of California's election
would "not be helpful" at this sensitive stage in the evolution of Iraqi
democracy.
But much to Mr. Bremer's dismay the al-Jazeera television network beamed
reports about the California race into Iraq late Friday, stirring fresh
fears about democracy as a viable form of government in this war-torn
country.
"Saddam Hussein was a brutal madman, but at least he was qualified," said
Mr. al-Shibli, in an apparent reference to California's motley field of
candidates.
Gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger, campaigning on Sunday in
Carmel, California, seemed not to hear reporters' shouted questions about
the Iraqi controversy, saying only, "I have so much energy! I have so
much fire!"
A spokesman for Mr. Schwarzenegger later clarified the candidate's
remarks, saying, "Mr. Schwarzenegger has so much energy and so much fire."
In other California election news, actor Ben Affleck today became the
latest Hollywood celebrity to file for candidacy in the gubernatorial
race.
According to observers who have seen Mr. Affleck's most recent film,
"Gigli," Mr. Affleck had already given up acting.
CITING CALIFORNIA, IRAQIS REJECT DEMOCRACY
Governing Council Recoils in Horror at News from Golden State
In what was seen as a setback to the establishment of democratic
institutions in Iraq, the Iraqi Governing Council today voted unanimously
to reject democracy as a form of government, citing the California
gubernatorial race as a worst-case scenario.
"The Americans say that what has happened in California cannot possibly
happen here," said Abdul al-Shibli, a council representative from Mosul.
"We are not prepared to take that risk."
Interim Iraqi administrator L. Paul Bremer III had attempted a blackout of
news from the Golden State, arguing that coverage of California's election
would "not be helpful" at this sensitive stage in the evolution of Iraqi
democracy.
But much to Mr. Bremer's dismay the al-Jazeera television network beamed
reports about the California race into Iraq late Friday, stirring fresh
fears about democracy as a viable form of government in this war-torn
country.
"Saddam Hussein was a brutal madman, but at least he was qualified," said
Mr. al-Shibli, in an apparent reference to California's motley field of
candidates.
Gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger, campaigning on Sunday in
Carmel, California, seemed not to hear reporters' shouted questions about
the Iraqi controversy, saying only, "I have so much energy! I have so
much fire!"
A spokesman for Mr. Schwarzenegger later clarified the candidate's
remarks, saying, "Mr. Schwarzenegger has so much energy and so much fire."
In other California election news, actor Ben Affleck today became the
latest Hollywood celebrity to file for candidacy in the gubernatorial
race.
According to observers who have seen Mr. Affleck's most recent film,
"Gigli," Mr. Affleck had already given up acting.