"Observers attributed Goran’s relatively poor showing to a number of factors. The main one may be that Kurdish voters like the idea of reform, and trust Goran deputies, who have stood up in the regional parliament and challenged the ruling parties with a zeal previously unknown in Kurdistan, to produce it. But that’s inside the Kurdistan region. In the federal parliament in Baghdad, they prefer their representatives to present a unified nationalist Kurdish front unspoiled by unruly Goran politicians seeking to distinguish themselves from their rivals and possibly even—gasp!—making separate deals with Arab parties on issues of Kurdish national interest."

But even as the preliminary results were about to be broadcast, a coalition of Shiite parties called the vote-counting process into question, challenging both the transparency of the ballot counting and the computerized system being used to tabulate the votes.

Political rivalry and tension prompted by the 7 March legislative elections in Iraqi Kurdistan resulted in a wave of violence against independent and opposition journalists in the days preceding the election and on election day itself. Journalists describe it as the most harrowing period since the US invasion of Iraq in April 2003. The March 7th polling day was a black day for press freedom with many physical attacks and threats against independent and opposition media.

By BILL ROGGIOMarch 4, 2010 11:59 AM Suicide bombers have struck in central Iraq for the second day straight as Iraqis prepare to go to the polls to choose their representatives in the March 7 parliamentary election. Two suicide bombers killed 14 Iraqis in Baghdad today, and 31 were killed in suicide bombings yesterday in the city of Baqubah. The attacks are the first indication of a major push by al Qaeda in Iraq since late January and early February, when the group's suicide bombers carried out a series of strikes against Shia pilgrims in Baghdad in regions south of the capital that killed 178 Iraqis and wounded hundreds more.

"“We design our city and the city designs us,” Muwafaq al-Taei, an architect, said, nodding, offering his own version of Churchill’s words. He went on, conflating centuries and rulers. “The story of Baghdad is always a political story, a completely political story.” He paused again before refining his idea further. // “The story of Baghdad,” he said finally, settling on his thought, “is the story of infrastructure.”"

In taken by storm W. Lance Bennet writes, "Any normative order favors some social values, ideas, and actors over others, and creates openings for deception, manipulation, and conflict." In the new movie Matt Damon stars in "The Green Locker" looks at the chaos after the invasion of Baghdad and the whole WMD issue (or non-issue) and the controversy surrounding it. The quote relays to this segment because back during the time after Baghdad there was controversy behind the WMD's being in Iraq and how that particular story in American Journalism sparked some controversy from the ordinary soldier to me a student back then believing this (WMD's) not existing at all.....

venessa.hernandez posted a photo:

U.S. Army Sgt. Emmanuel Kemp (right) brings his wrath down on Spc. Michael Montgomery, both from 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, making him lift a sandbag as punishment on Forward Operating Base Taji, Iraq, Mar. 13, 2010. Wrath is one of the seven deadly vices in Dante Alighieri's poem The Devine Comedy.
(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Venessa Hernandez)

venessa.hernandez posted a photo:

U.S Army Pfc. Daniel Obermark from 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division gluttonously gorges himself on masses of food to show he can't gain weight if he tried on Forward Operating Base Taji, Iraq, Mar. 13, 2010. Gluttony is one of the seven deadly vices in Dante Alighieri's poem The Devine Comedy. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Venessa Hernandez)

venessa.hernandez posted a photo:

U.S Army Pfc. Justin Nicholas (left) and Pfc. Christopher Maddox from 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division exemplify the vice sloth in their lifestyle and living conditions on Forward Operating Base Taji, Iraq, Mar. 13, 2010. Sloth is one of the seven deadly vices in Dante Alighieri's poem The Devine Comedy. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Venessa Hernandez)

venessa.hernandez posted a photo:

U.S Army Pfc. Mike Almeida from 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division illustrates the vice lust on Forward Operating Base Taji, Iraq, Mar. 13, 2010. Lust is one of the seven deadly vices in Dante Alighieri's poem The Devine Comedy.
(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Venessa Hernandez)

venessa.hernandez posted a photo:

U.S Army Pfc. Kenny Gardner (left) and Sgt. Vitaliy Buntylo from 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division show off their bodies and their pride on Forward Operating Base Taji, Iraq, Mar. 13, 2010. Pride is one of the seven deadly vices in Dante Alighieri's poem The Devine Comedy.
(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Venessa Hernandez)

Colonel Killgore posted a photo:

Stopped off during our introduction to where we will be working and took the inevitable iconic shot. Note the tiny Blackhawk flying in the background - they were circling continuously in the aftermath of the elections.

Colonel Killgore posted a photo:

Err... Speaks for itself really...

Actually, contrary to my previous experiences the RAF movement was really good and efficient (despote leaving from Brize Norton and going via Teeside).

The US Rhino convoy taking me the short distance from the airport to the Green Zone, however, took longer than the entire journey up until then...

monolithsound posted a photo:

U.S Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, sling load a container of computer equipment at Joint Security Station Loyalty, Iraq on July 8th, 2009. The container is being transported to Forward Operating Base Hammer by a CH-47 helicopter. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. James Selesnick/Not Reviewed)

monolithsound posted a photo:

U.S Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, sling load a container of computer equipment at Joint Security Station Loyalty, Iraq on July 8th, 2009. The container is being transported to Forward Operating Base Hammer by a CH-47 helicopter. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. James Selesnick/Not Reviewed)

thedukeofrealtalk posted a photo:

pencil, pen 8x11

Al Jazeera English posted a photo:

Iraqi qouzi in the making.

Photo by Omar Chatriwala

Al Jazeera English posted a photo:

Photo by Omar Chatriwala

Al Jazeera English posted a photo:

Photo by Omar Chatriwala

Al Jazeera English posted a photo:

Al Jazeera English posted a photo:

Al Jazeera English posted a photo:

Photo by Omar Chatriwala

Al Jazeera English posted a photo:

Photo by Omar Chatriwala

Al Jazeera English posted a photo:

Al Jazeera English posted a photo:

A river carp caught from the Tigris.

Photo by Omar Chatriwala

Al Jazeera English posted a photo: