I was corresponding this week with an Iraqi attorney I’m working with on a certain project. Regarding the upcoming elections, he had this to say–“Well, I’m not there [Baghdad] now, I am hiding in Cairo for a few weeks, so my opinion is a little abstract at this time. My sense is that the intimidation is quite heavy, and there will be a lot of violence, and a lot of people trying to vote will probably be killed. I think a lot of people will not vote because of fear. I was speaking to an Armenian Christian colleague today about it, and he said he still does not know if he will vote or not. He has a lot of anxiety about going to vote and possibly being killed. I’m not sure it will really be the poster experience everyone wants it to be, and I feel that this whole transition process is just a little too rushed. In all events, this is only about half-way through the entire process, and there will be a lot of unrest, and a lot of bloodshed before it is all over.”

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