I sure hope so. Us Bahrainis (who voted) can fully understand how Iraqis must have felt today going to the polls. The difference however is that they’ve also been dodging bullets and bombs while trying to get to polling stations. Well done to all those who have participated. I hope your efforts and sacrifices bear fruit soon.

This is a positive step that people outside of the Middle East cannot comprehend, at least not its enormity. This is choosing your own leaders, your own government, your own constitution. I fervently hope that the Iraqis now will NEVER allow ANY president or prime minister to stay in position for more than 2 terms, come hell or high water. In fact, for the first full elections I would strongly advise them to not allow them to go beyond even a single term. If the constitution must be written in such a way as to allow this dispensation then for God’s sake vote for it. Allowing multiple-term president/prime minister (a-la Hosni Mubarak) will invalidate all those who have died for a free Iraq.

And for God’s sake don’t take any Arab constitution as a template!

I am also extremely happy that even the highest religious authority in Iraq has categorically said that they want a secular government – Bahrain are you listening? The Qur’an and Shari’a have their exalted places for sure, but do we really need that word “Islam” in our constitution? The Iraqis have voluntarily done away with it, the Iranians (for all their faults) are running a republic rather than a Caliphate. Shouldn’t we too?

The polls have closed now, and according to various news organisations the day was a success. True 27 souls perished, but Iraq as a whole won. It should serve as a shining example for democracy in this region.

The first thing the Iraqis should do is find/give-up that stupid fuck Zarqawi, bind and truss him and his followers, wrap every single one of them in just-slaughtered blood-wet pigskin and bury them, ensuring that they themselves would realise that they will never be allowed into Heaven! (I made that up, don’t quote me scholastically) That way Iraq and Iraqis can get on with their lives.

Well done Iraq and congratulations on your rebirth.

A Bahraini “Mahmood Abdulaziz” was killed today in a gun battle with security forces in Salmiya, Kuwait. The BBC reports 4 people killed, 3 terrorists and one policeman. As a Bahraini was killed too in the ensuing gunfire, was he too one of the terrorists? The BBC at least did not go into detail yet about the incident, however Radio Bahrain has reported just that “a Bahraini citizen was amongst the dead.”

This is great.. first Bahrain helps defends Kuwait during their war with Iraq by sending soldiers and equipment, now (if the deceased was indeed a terrorist, and it sounds like he was) we send terrorists to help rip it apart?

update: The Bahraini was residing in the same apartment building and was caught in the cross-fire. Our deep condolences to his family and friends. We still don’t know what exactly happened and how he was unwittingly killed, hopefully an inquiry into his death would be mounted so that the facts of the matter become known.

Isn’t it enough for Kuwait already? They’ve not had much peace since the ’60s, don’t they deserve a break? First Saddam terrorises them for 30 years, now they have these salafi terrorists (hold verdict on the Bahraini killed for now) shooting and sabotaging their country.

As if that is not enough, the Salafis have now unofficially “came out” and organised themselves in Kuwait as a political party, thus becoming the first gathering to call itself a political party in the Arabian Gulf. They possibly think now they will have the clout to rout their government, they always have I think, judging by what’s unfortunately happening in Kuwait.

tackiness:

‘This is my chance to give something back,’ Mr. Alabbar said. ‘I represent the Dubai dream and now I’m going to show young people how to turn their dreams into reality. We have been set a marvelous example here in Dubai by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who has shown that dreams – even the most visionary – can be turned into reality. Everyone in business in Dubai who has been a success can be said to have been his apprentice.
full release…

Yes I know it’s better than Big Brother, but still the height on tackiness. If they wanted to really “inspire” and create opportunities for their people, don’t you think they would have at least created some semblance of popular participation in governing the country, rather than be run by a single person who has been elevated wrongly to a position of God?

And they want to pay the winner $300k for the privilege of being a performing monkey for year? You can take your $300k and shove it where the sun don’t shine for all I care, and that goes for Mark Burnett and the pouty Donald (duck) Trump as well.

“represent the Dubai dream” my big toe. You were most probably there at the right time with the right ass to kiss. Don’t talk to me about equal opportunities and entrepreneurship.