Why would Afghans or Iraqis register?

[SHRED]

For voting or anything?

Seems to me that given the recent events with the police killings and U.S. history in the region, why would the citizens of Iraq or Afghanistan put their names down on a registry?

I would think they would be very leery of a permanent record, with their name and address on it. Suppose we leave or they fear we leave. Their names would then be available as those "sympathetic" to the west. That would be a death sentence for them and their families.

If I were them I would fear that ponit considering the history of Vietnam and also the lack of U.S. support during the last Iraq uprising, following Desert Storm.

They have every right to be paranoid. I just don't see how voting is gonna work in those places, especially Iraq.

Has this theory been discussed in the media or anywhere?
I think I have a legitimate point here.

[DuctapeFatwa]

1. Talk of "voting" and "elections" is mostly for domestic consumption

Like several other issues, Washington is probably being a little overcautious on this one. How the US disposes of native populations in these regions is not a big concern for the bulk of the American voting class.

No one, in the US or out, should be concerned that the regime will permit any "voting" that might not be supportive of US business interests, either in the United States itself or in any of its extra-territorial properties.

[SHRED]

2. Agreed

But as far as a "face value"-"mainstream" type counterpoint, as to why elections will be difficult to pull off, I wonder why I haven't heard my original point, in any media?

[DuctapeFatwa]

3. I would guess two reasons, one it's not sexy. Ratings mean money

And yet another story with so and so saying "elections will be hard to pull off" countered by another regime henchmen blathering about challenges and freedom and bush's vision for the Middle East just does not pull in the viewers like the Jackson family legal and sartorial woes and Kobe and Lacy, etc.

Another reason I would imagine producers and editors shy away from it is that as "election" time in the US itself nears, political stories about problems of elections, lists of voters and irregularities will not be as appealing to either advertisers or the government as more standard "Jones attacks Smith," "Will Brown drop out and support "Jones" kind of stuff.

[SHRED]

4. Yep

Probably just not good business for the corporate media. Too messy of a theory.