"We Vow to Wash the Streets of Baghdad with the Voters' Blood"

So... would you vote?

Background on threats to Iraqi voters from yesterday's New York Times.

I mean the question seriously. If you were an Iraqi, would you vote, given the threats of violence at polling places and retribution for those who participate? Remember that the insurgents are already identifying people who work for Americans or the new government, and killing them and their families.

I think we'd all like to think we'd vote. But realistically? Would you? Why or why not?

Next Up, Iran?

Today the New Yorker reported that the US has been conducting covert operations in Iran to identify potential nuclear, chemical, and missile targets. An aide to the President (you know, the president who told us that there were WMDs in Iraq) says that the article is "riddled with inaccuracies." It's unclear what those inaccuracies were, and whether the substance of the article was wrong.

Question: given the experience with Iraq, does the administration have any credibility on the issue of identifying which foreign nations represent real threats?

Question: since we've already got a draft by any other name (through service extensions) just to maintain inadequate forces in Iraq, is it more likely that we'll have an actual draft if the administration decides it's time to attack Iran, or will we just abandon Iraq to civil war?