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Voting in Iraq
Still in search of holiday presents? How about Baghdad Burning – Riverbend’s girl blog from Iraq now available as a book (Amazon, Barnes&Nobel).
Today Riverbend posted some observations on the campaigns and election. The Iran supported Shia list is likely to win. For Iraqi women this a huge step backwards:
The last press conference I watched of Hakim was a few days ago. […] The women were sitting on one side of the audience and the men were sitting on the other side, the sexes separated by a narrow aisle. The women all wore black abbayas and headscarves. It could have been a scene out of Teheran.
Imad has a picture of what he says is the official ballot.
Just like Afghanistan, Iraq is now a failed state. There is no central power in control. Iraq will either break up fast with a minor civil war, or it will smolder until something bigger, like an attack on Iran, triggers a chain of general wars throughout the Middle East.
Ask yourself: What list would you choose?
And buy Riverbend`s book. It may be her ticket out of the mess.
Warmup Between Courses
– The Tabuli Chronicles –
David: Did you know they voted today on the
Iraqi constitution, Paul”?
Paul: Uh-urble-hmmf. I did not know that.
David: The exit polls showed there wasn’t
just one question on the ballot, but five!
Paul: Ahhh, zhermbllble shalla.
[Flash Laughter Sign]
David: Here’s those five Iraqi ballot questions:
Number One: “Are you now or were you ever
a member of the Baathist Party (and support
the new Constitution)?” Yes [ ] -or- No [ ]
[Flash Laughter Sign]
Number Two: “Do you support a polling gift
of five US dollars for your troubles in voting
(and the new Constitution)?” Yes [ ] -or- No [ ]
[Flash Laughter Sign]
Paul: Whall-snorfle durbit!
[Spontaneous Applause Cue Card]
Dave:
Number Three: “Do you support an end to the
US occupation of Iraq and restoration of full
Iraqi sovereignty (and the new Constitution)?”
[Flash Laughter Sign]
Number Four: “Do you think Freedom and
Democracy is just another word, for nothing
left to lose (and support the new Constitution)?”
[Flash Laughter Sign]
Number Five: “Would you like fries with that?”
[Flash Applause Sign]
[Spontaneous Applause Cue Card]
[Dave Flips Pencil Through Fake Window]
[SFX Breaking Glass]
Paul: Break into 5 sec N.O. sousa chorus.
[Audience settles down in anticipation]
– –
The Tabuli Chronicles – Secrets Revealed
(serves four light- or two hearty-eaters)
1 cup black beans, soaked well, and cooked with
2 tsps lard, chopped onions and pablano pepper
1 cup rice, white, rinsed, and cooked with 1 tsp oil
1/2 sweet potato, microwave until tender, then mash
1/2 cup best available **fresh** hot tomato salsa
(‘Salso So Fresh’, Shelton, Washington
1/2 eggplant, left in sun, cubed into small pieces
1/4 large yellow onion, thin sliced then chopped
3 large cloves garlic, minced
1/2 pablano pepper, diced
1/2 large carrot, random sliced, then chopped
1 lime, ripe and soft
2 sprigs parsley or cilantro, finely chopped
pinch of salt and pinch of dried red pepper flakes
Mix tabuli ingredients in stainless or ceramic bowl,
adding 1 to 2 tbls olive oil and squeezing lime over.
Continue to mix until all the pieces are well coated.
Microwave five minutes, until aroma hits your nose.
Ideally you want it piping hot, but not fully cooked.
Place black beans, rice, sweet potatoes, salsa and
eggplant tabuli in separate serving bowls, with a
plate of flour tortillas, pre-warmed in microwave.
Place tablespoons of rice, beans, salsa, sweet
potatoes and tabuli on tortilla and roll into burrito.
Serve with crisp, dry, light beer, (Bud at 30 degrees.)
Your guests will cry. Seriously.
– –
11,000,000 Johnny Americans can’t read this,
and George is cutting education funding again.
Posted by: Loose Shanks | Dec 16 2005 2:51 utc | 4
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