Iraqi Democracy

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Sunday-s Iraqi election won't resemble American-style democracy. Security measures will include curfews and bans on driving. Campaigning has been impossible for candidates afraid to reveal their names. Polling locations won-t be announced until the night before the voting begins, and preparations are being carried out in secret. The likely winners say they-ll establish a secular government, rather than a theocracy like Iran-s, but after weeks of deadly violence and new threats by Musab al-Zarkawi, how many Iraqis will turn out to vote? How many voters will survive? How many know who the candidates are, let alone what they stand for? We get an update on election preparations, and learn what's at stake for President Bush, from journalists, experts on Iraq, military theory and post-conflict resolution, and a former US ambassador. Making News: New Push to Find Osama bin Laden Afghans and Pakistanis are being reminded there-s a $25 million price on the head of Osama bin Laden. That may be increased next month to $50 million, according to Time magazine, in an article by Tim McGirk. Reporter's Notebook: UN Remembers 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz As the United Nations was being formed in 1948, the world was just learning details of the Holocaust in Nazi Germany, but not until today has the UN General Assembly officially commemorated those events. Secretary General Kofi Annan led the memorial, on the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, where more than a million people were killed in gas chambers and of starvation and disease. Beni Avni is covering today's event for the New York Sun and Israeli radio.
Sunday-s Iraqi election won't resemble American-style democracy. Security measures will include curfews and bans on driving. Campaigning has been impossible for candidates afraid to reveal their names. Polling locations won-t be announced until the night before the voting begins, and preparations are being carried out in secret. The likely winners say they-ll establish a secular government, rather than a theocracy like Iran-s, but after weeks of deadly violence and new threats by Musab al-Zarkawi, how many Iraqis will turn out to vote? How many voters will survive? How many know who the candidates are, let alone what they stand for? We get an update on election preparations, and learn what's at stake for President Bush, from journalists, experts on Iraq, military theory and post-conflict resolution, and a former US ambassador.
  • Making News: New Push to Find Osama bin Laden
    Afghans and Pakistanis are being reminded there-s a $25 million price on the head of Osama bin Laden. That may be increased next month to $50 million, according to Time magazine, in an article by Tim McGirk.
  • Reporter's Notebook: UN Remembers 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz
    As the United Nations was being formed in 1948, the world was just learning details of the Holocaust in Nazi Germany, but not until today has the UN General Assembly officially commemorated those events. Secretary General Kofi Annan led the memorial, on the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, where more than a million people were killed in gas chambers and of starvation and disease. Beni Avni is covering today's event for the New York Sun and Israeli radio.

Time magazine article on new US media blitz against bin Laden

Crocker's NY Times op-ed article on US in Iraq

Dexter Filkins' NY Times article on Shiites, Iraqi government

Knight Ridder analysis on US losing war in Iraq

UN commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz

Auschwitz

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney