The absence of lines and apparent public enthusiasm for the election was in sharp contrast to February's presidential vote, which returned former President Rene Preval to power.
"It's a slow start," said David Wimhurst, a spokesman for the U.N. mission that was called to Haiti to help restore order following Aristide's ouster. "We think some people are waiting to see if they can vote later in the day. We expect it to pick up."
Thousands of U.N. peacekeepers fanned out across the country to guard polling stations, but only a tiny fraction of Haiti's 3.5 million registered voters had arrived to cast ballots shortly after voting opened at dawn. There were no immediate reports of disturbances or other problems.
Don't the Haitians know they should be happy to have UN overlords guiding them forward to freedom, democracy, and prosperity? I mean, they are lucky they aren't under American protection like those Iraqis or Afghanis!
But hey, at least the Haitians managed to get the UN to give a bit of a damn. Perhaps if the Sudanese study harder they can pass that international test.
