Neither rain, nor sleet

Nor increasing violence, nor threat of boycots, nor razed cities, nor continuing slaughter of national guard and police, nor murder of government officials will keep us from holding those elections.

The White House condemned the assassination Tuesday of Baghdad's provincial governor, acknowledging security ''challenges'' in Iraq but sticking firm to the country's timetable for elections less than four weeks away.

[...]

Also Tuesday, a suicide truck bomber killed 10 people at an Interior Ministry commando headquarters, and five American troops were slain in three separate attacks. It was the deadliest day for the U.S. military in Iraq since a suicide bombing at a mess tent in Mosul on Dec. 21 killed 22 people

The spokesman confirmed that Bush had spoken with Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi on Monday, but said the two leaders did not discuss postponing the Jan. 30 elections.

''There was no discussion of that in the phone call none,'' [White House spokesman Scott] McClellan said.

[...]

''We condemn that in the strongest terms,'' McClellan said. ''The choice is clear for everyone in Iraq and the international community you can stand on side of freedom, democracy and peace, or you stand on the side of the terrorists,'' McClellan said.

Boston.com article

And get your sorry, scared shitless asses to the polling places, which have not been announced because they'll be blown up if we do announce them, on January 30.

''For much of the country, the situation is secure enough to move forward on holding elections,'' McClellan said. ''There are a few areas that we're continuing to work to improve the security situation, so those areas will be able to have as full a participation as possible in elections.''

Is it just me, or does that sound like a lead-up to...if you aren't going to turn over the bad guys in your part of the country, then you will just have to miss your chance to vote, and too bad. It's up to you.

I guess the Iraqi interim defense minister will be getting a memo.