*Ø* The Face of Iraqi 'Democracy'

"Iraq's appointed leader, Ayad Allawi, put on an impressive performance yesterday in Washington ...

It was everything the Bush re-election campaign could have asked for. Unfortunately, most of it was wrong.

"Until Iraq holds free elections, Mr. Allawi cannot claim to speak for more than the narrow coalition of exile parties that maneuvered his appointment as interim prime minister. Increasingly well-organized and deadly attacks are directed against American troops, foreign relief workers and Iraqi security recruits. Sunni towns like Falluja and Mosul and Shiite areas, including much of Baghdad, are gripped by insurgencies that American military analysts believe are nowhere near being overcome. Oil pipelines are attacked regularly, electricity supplies remain erratic, and foul drinking water breeds disease ... "
Full text at the New York Times