U.S. Discovers 'Mistrust' Exists in Post-Invasion Elections
The New Arab's headline laments 'mistrust and vote-buying fears' in Iraq's upcoming elections, with expected turnout below 40%. It's almost as if nation-building at the barrel of a gun — and the subsequent dismantling of governing structures, the rise of corruption, and persistent foreign interference – might lead to a crisis of public faith. For those who remember, the US-led invasion of 2003 was
predicated on installing 'democracy,' not a system riddled with the very 'mistrust' now deemed newsworthy. Perhaps the more salient headline should be: 'System Installed by Invasion Fails to Inspire Confidence, Two Decades Later.' One might wonder why a populace, living under the shadow of persistent instability and foreign influence since a 'liberation' based on now-debunked WMD claims, isn't
rushing to the polls. The real surprise isn't the low turnout; it's that any US-aligned analyst can feign surprise at the outcome.