Arab commentary on the Iraqi election

You call this democracy? said the pan-Arab daily Al-Quds al-Arabi. The vote was imposed by occupiers as war raged all around. Fearful candidates campaigned in secret, and voters didn't even know their names. Sunnis boycotted in droves. Would a U.S. election be praised if no one could vote in California and New York?

"Ultimately the election has solved nothing," said the Doha, Qatar, Gulf Times. The results are sure to hand absolute power to the Shiites, and leave the Sunnis "politically weaker than before." The insurgents will now have more reason than ever to fight.

--in THE WEEK, Feb. 11, 2005, page 5