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First we closed the torture and rape rooms. Then we reopened them. Now it looks like we're overseeing the reinstatement of Saddam's policy of rigging elections

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Oct. 17 - Iraqi election officials said today that they were investigating what they described as "unusually high" vote totals in 12 Shiite and Kurdish provinces, where as many 99 percent of the voters were reported to have cast ballots in favor of Iraq's new constitution, raising the possibility that the results of Saturday's referendum could be called into question

Things in Iraq were already hanging by a very thin thread, and from everything I've read over the past few months, it seemed the only chance we had was if these elections were seen throughout Iraq (and the Arab world) as totally legit. So tell me... why am I so surprised that the Bush administration may have failed in executing one of the most basic functions of government in Iraq?

This is just depressing. Let's all hope these initial reports are not true. Remember - "we invaded to impose democracy" was the last best argument the Bushies have been able to offer on Iraq...

UPDATE: First, some details from Chris @ MyDD. Read and weep.

Second, a thought. For the last few days, administration officials, all the way on up to Sec. of State Rice, have been saying that the referendum most likely passed. When I first heard this yesterday, my first thought was... shut the hell up! At the time I was worried that if the vote turned out close but in our favor, it would open the door for those who had opposed the constitution to complain that we had interfered with the process. After all, we're talking about hand ballots and no exit polling, so how the hell could they have a clue what the final vote was. Sadly, it appears I underestimated the problems her statements might create for us.

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