Iraq 'election' a rubber stamp of occupation

The U.S. was warned of internal strife and the strong possibility of civil war long before they invaded. But that doesn't matter. What does matter is that the oil in Iraq comes under the control of the huge U.S. and British corporations and that oil remains sold only in dollars.

US ambassador "will remain the critical behind-the-scenes power," says New York Times.

Iraqi election to rubber-stamp continued US occupation.

The Bush administration and the American media are, predictably, hailing the December 15 election as a giant step towards democracy in Iraq. In reality, as they well know, Thursday’s balloting only provides a parliamentary screen—and a very thin one—for continued US occupation and domination. Whatever the outcome of the voting, real power in the oil-rich country will remain firmly in the hands of the American military and the chief US representative in Baghdad, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad.

The period leading up to the election suggests that rival factions in Iraq are preparing feverishly for civil war. Nearly all the major parties and coalitions contesting the election focused their campaigns on religious or ethnic appeals, and post-election conflicts could produce a communal bloodbath leading to the breakup of Iraq, or intensified US military operations.

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