I must admit, I am writing this post for a chance to use this title.
But I don't get the point of this Syrian election. It won't impress democracy advocates and I don't think the pro-Assad crowd views elections as all that important. No one actually believes this thing will be free or fair and the fact they are holding the vote during an active shooting war poses all kinds of additional technical and security challenges.
I guess Assad wants to do it because he wants to use his new constitution (drafted in a much earlier phase of the anti-Assad revolt, when it was more Arab Springy and less warry) as a propaganda tool. But is anyone really buying this?
But I don't get the point of this Syrian election. It won't impress democracy advocates and I don't think the pro-Assad crowd views elections as all that important. No one actually believes this thing will be free or fair and the fact they are holding the vote during an active shooting war poses all kinds of additional technical and security challenges.
I guess Assad wants to do it because he wants to use his new constitution (drafted in a much earlier phase of the anti-Assad revolt, when it was more Arab Springy and less warry) as a propaganda tool. But is anyone really buying this?
