BAGHDAD (October 23, 2004) - The editorial board of the Baghdad Post Dispatch has just launched an initiative to help American undecided voters to make up their mind. Less than ten days before the historic presidential election on November 2, there are about 5 % of the American electorate (estimated 10 millions) who still do not have the slightest idea who they are going to vote for. As main reason, the Board cited the fact that the Iraq people, rooted in the birthplace of Western civilization, feel obligated to assist the American democratic process in any way possible.
Unlike the recently failed attempt of the British newspaper The Guardian, who used a massive mail campaign from the UK to coerce American voters in Clark County, Ohio, to vote against President Bush, this initiative is strictly neutral. A electronic Town Hall will be set up in the Tigris Convention Center in downtown Baghdad, this Sunday, with satellite link to several cities in six key swing states Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The American undecided voters can participate directly via satellite video link to Baghdad, or submitted questions by telephone. The Iraqi Telekom has agreed to provide the following international toll-free number 1-800-364-8669 (DO IT NOW).
The Town Hall meeting will start with a panel discussion, which is intertwined with Q&A from the American undecided voters. It will begin at 10:00 AM EDT (or 6:00 PM Baghdad time) on Sunday October 24, and will continue non-stop until the last American voter makes up his or her mind.
The panel represent a wide range of Iraqi political spectrum. Mr. Allawi, Prime Minister of the Interim Government, and Mr. Zarqawi, CEO of Military Consulting Management & Associates from Fallujah, have already confirmed their participation. Also confirmed are Mr. Al Mahmud (Sunni Islamic Movement), Mr. Hani Ibrahim (Shiite Christian Coalition), Mr. Ali Salih (Kurdish Liberation Front), Mrs. Hamza Zubaydi (Baathist Victims Network), former General Al-Duri (IED Veterans for Truth), Mr. Amid Qusay (National RPG Association), Mrs. Taha Ramadan (Iraqi Teacher Union), Mr. Ayad Mizban (Fraternity of Iraqi National Guard) and Mrs. Rukan Razuki (Federation of Iraqi Bazar Commerce). We are still negotiating with General George Casey Jr., Commander of the MNF Multi-National Forces in Iraq, for the permission to lay a direct satellite video link to Mr. Saddam Hussein, currently held at an undisclosed location.
UPDATE - As of now, October 30, 2004, about seventy hours before the election, this Town Hall meeting is still going on. There are still seventeen undecided American voters left, 5 from Florida, 8 from Ohio and 4 from Pennsylvania. From the panel is only Mr. Zarqawi left, he says "No problem for me to stay this long, the food and the accomodation here are much better than my cave in Fallujah anyway."
