Iraqi "Democracy" Crumbling Before It Begins

There are cries of "election fraud" across Iraq as the fundamentalist Shiite United Iraqi Alliance garners a bigger majority than anyone expected--in cities like Baghdad that are overwhelmingly Sunni. 10,000 Sunnis marched through Baghdad today chanting "No to America!" and calling for a re-vote.

More than 60 political parties have called for a new election, threatened to boycott the new Parliament, and have warned of the possibility of violence if new elections don't take place.

But a UN advisor to the Iraqi electoral commission says he doesn't think there will be a new election.

"The decision on a rerun rests with the Electoral Commission but I'd be very surprised if there was one," (UN Advisor Craig) Jenness said.

Howie, I'm sure, will say that everything's A-OK. Mission accomplished. We've turned a corner. Insurgency in its death throes. Plan for victory.

Yada, yada, yada. What a mess.