So you leave out large parts of the country. You allow only candidates of whom the US approves to run. You do not allow some issues held dear by most Iraqis, such as the role of religion in government to be on the ballot. (Iraqis hold their religious leaders in high esteem, disdain their politicians.)

And you call that "democracy", "freedom", and an "election".

Ya gotta wonder, "Why bother?" Because the result will not be the will of the Iraqis, but the will of Bush and Cheney.

Violence 'may limit Iraqi poll'.

"US troops have been increasingly under fire from Iraqi insurgents.

"The US defence secretary has suggested Iraq may only be able to hold limited elections in January, omitting areas where violence is most severe.

"Donald Rumsfeld told senators it might not be possible to conduct voting in some places targeted by militants.

"Earlier, interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and US President George W Bush ruled out delaying the vote.

"Mr Allawi told a joint session of Congress that Iraq was succeeding in establishing freedom and democracy."

Arf