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U.S. Downplays Importance of Iraqi Voter Turnout

HeadlineJan 13, 2005

In other news from Iraq, the Washington Post is reporting that the Bush administration is considerably lowering its expectations for both the turnout and the results of the Jan. 30 election in Iraq. Officials are now claiming that high voter turnout is not even significant. A senior administration official said, “I would … really encourage people not to focus on numbers, which in themselves don’t have any meaning, but to look on the outcome and to look at the government that will be the product of these elections.” The comment came during an official White House briefing. But reporters were barred from citing what official conducted the briefing. Also Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan admitted, “The election is not going to be perfect,” Earlier this week interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Earlier said for the first time that elections would not be held in all parts of Iraq.

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