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Sunday, February 13, 2005

Great Day

Iraqi preliminary election results are in:

According to the returns, which still must be certified, the coalition known as the United Iraqi Alliance won 47.6 percent of the vote, the low end of what its officials had predicted. A coalition of two main Kurdish parties won 25.4 percent of the vote, and a bloc led by interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a secular Shiite, got 13.6 percent. The United Iraqi Alliance drew the support of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the country's leading Shiite cleric.


Together, the three coalitions accounted for nearly 87 percent of the vote, making them the central players in the new National Assembly, which will choose a resident and two vice presidents. They, in turn, will appoint a prime minister, who will choose a cabinet. The new government will be subject to confirmation by the
assembly, which will also be charged with writing a new Iraqi constitution.

Since Patrick Buchanan didn't receive any votes, any challenges will not likely result in any visits by Jesse Jackson.

Our enemy hates this day. May they have more to hate.