Anthony Shadid in Baghdad talks about the implementation of security measures and the ongoing campaigns by candidates in that city.
“Right now you are seeing almost a tale of two cities in Baghdad. When you venture into Sunni neighborhoods or predominantly Sunni neighborhoods, the election isn’t really much of an issue to be honest. There aren’t that many campaign posters. Inside homes it is not a topic of conversation. You know people are reluctant to vote in those areas either for fear of intimidation, or they see this process as being engineered by the United States and they don’t want to be part of it.
You see a far different story in Shiite neighborhoods, places like Habbaniyah and even parts of Sadr City. There is quite a bit of enthusiasm and excitement about the vote. There is a sense that come Election Day, there is going to be a redress of historic wrongs of decades even centuries in which the Shia community has been repressed. This is the moment which they rectify it, this is the moment when they — achieve their rights or exercise their influence that reflects their numbers as a majority.”
You can read the complete transcript of the discussion here.
