I'm willing to hope that ordinary Iraqi show the incredible courage needed to vote. Certainly they'll have hardly a clue of the candidates they are voting for, and there will be a long period after the vote in which the militants will challenge with guns and bombs.

The militants appear to be making a tactical mistake in threatening those who would dare to vote rather than keeping the focus on the occupying troops and the Iraqi police and troops.

Martin, welcome aboard for civil debate.

Charley Noble