Allawi on Iraqi Call-In Show

- Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi simply smiled during the live television show when a man called to praise terrorist mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The Iraqi leader then moved on, offering to find information about a woman's detained son and see why a student didn't get into the graduate program of his choice.

The surprisingly frank hour-long call-in program, "The Iraqi Podium," is a rarity for the region, giving Iraqis the chance to pepper Allawi with questions, from the mundane to the serious. Judging by the show's popularity, Iraqis are taking advantage.

Unfortunately the show is on the United States funded Al-Iraqiya and not on an Arab owned television network, however it is still a positive sign that Iraqis are calling in to talk to Allawi. It is the basic understanding of Democracy, no matter what you say, that needs to be demonstrated to the Iraqi people. This show helps this process by allowing direct access to a candidate and can hopefully solve a few problems existing in Iraq along the way.

Cross-posted at In the Bullpen

Posted by: Chad at 07:52 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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