Secret candidates in Iraq election:

Due to security concerns, Iraqi candidate names have been with held and will not be available for viewing until entering the ballot booth. A limited amount of voter training is being offered in Jorden since Baghdad is too dangerous to conduct any election education. Also the entire Iraq election commission has resigned rather than be killed.
GW Bush has made it known that we are going to stay the course and not allow a group of thugs prevent America from controling the world.
CNN

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I don't consider this a surprise or a secret since the only candidates are virtually Bush Cheney representatives under the control of Alawi who is a "former" CIA operative.

In some ways the Shah of Iran was a less transparent US puppet.