HomeSpun Blogger Symposium IX

Homespun Symposium IX

What are your predictions for the elections in Iraq?

The elections will go as scheduled. In this first election, I would imagine that people will vote predominately down religious/faction lines. Shiaa's will vote for Shiaa's, Kurds for Kurds, and if the Sunni's decide to play...Sunni's for Sunnis. We'll just have to see how things work out.

Will there be violence?

Unfortunately, I believe that there will be a huge increase in violence in the days running up to the actual vote, but I think that the vote itself is setting up conditions that would make mass casualty attacks very likely. The concept of bringing everyone in a city to 10-20 different locations certainly puts lots of eggs all in one basket. For terrorists that want to make a statement, a polling place is definitely a tempting, lucrative target.

Somewhere along the path to the ballot box, there's going to be a throng of people either waiting to vote...or those that have just voted. The places where the large numbers congregate, will need to be watched/secured very carefully.

What will the government look like?

Probably made up of predominately Shia'as and Kurds. Sunnis need to make up their minds if they're going to have a hand in the future of Iraq. They might just be better off emigrating to Saudi Arabia with their brother Sunnis there.

Will it be legitimate, liberal, and capable of accomplishing anything?

They'll probably be as effective as our first administration was over 200 years ago. It will take some time for this democracy and freedom stuff to sink in.

And what effect will the election have on the U.S.?

I'm hoping that this will begin to show the naysayers that what we're trying to accomplish in the Islamic world is indeed possible. I think that the new freedoms bestowed upon the Iraqi people will continue an underlying movement we've heard about in Iran...where the younger Iranians believe that it's possible to enjoy the freedoms of the West...and still embrace Islam. I believe it too. And here is the rest of it.

I Quit....

When the last cigarettes in this pack are gone...I'm a non-smoker. I'm sure there are some of you out there that wouldn't cry a tear were I gone...but there are enough people out there that would.

I'm counting on some encouragement from the huddled masses that sneak in and out of here.

See you...on the smoke free high ground!

MajorDad1984

Okay...last one at about 7:10 a.m. this morning. No more money coming out of my pocket to fuel this awful habit!

Thank you to those of you that have shot me short messages of encouragement. I do appreciate it.

Yes, I'm a little tougher than a 60 yr. old woman...and Fox...I know it's going to be a long 8 days. I've done this quitting thing numerous times and quite successfully I'll add. Usually about 10 years of sobriety (nicotine) each time.

Smokefree on the high ground....

MajorDad1984

Update...going on 13 hours. I AM SO FRIGGIN HUNGRY!!!! 7 1/2 more days? Usually I'm okay by Day 3...anybody that I know might want to stay well outta my way for the next day or two. I'm in a pretty bad mood. Wonder why!

Your faithful scribe...on the high ground.

MajorDad

20 January 2005, 09:51 am (26 hours and 37 minutes tobacco free)

Well friends...the increased hunger certainly seems to have me in its grip...

Thank you for the support...

MajorDad1984

Almost 36 hours now.....

Oh....it's tough....hungry....hungry....hungry with a VERY, VERY, VERY short fuse. I think I'll be through the worst of it by the weekend....

What am I going to do with the $6 I've saved over the past two days????

From the smokeless high ground.

MajorDad1984

48 hours into this....I think I'm through the worst of it now. Thanks for your support and kind thoughts.

Back to blogging about important stuff...

MajorDad1984

Okay...60 hours just around the corner...and it seems like I've got the monkey off the back and on the run.

So much for being a non-smoker again. Simply saves $3 a day at this point...

Thanks,

MajorDad1984

And here is the rest of it.