OSCE “observers” to monitor US elections
A bunch of countries from Europe are sending “observers” to the U.S. to tell us whether American elections are fair. A number of them have recently experienced civil war, massive election fraud, and de-facto dictatorships. Virtually all oppose the policies of the current administration.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — A team of international observers will monitor the presidential election in November, according to the U.S. State Department. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe was invited to monitor the election by the State Department. The observers will come from the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. It will be the first time such a team has been present for a U.S. presidential election. “The U.S. is obliged to invite us, as all OSCE countries should,” spokeswoman Urdur Gunnarsdottir said. “It’s not legally binding, but it’s a political commitment. They signed a document 10 years ago to ask OSCE to observe elections.” Thirteen Democratic members of the House of Representatives, raising the specter of possible civil rights violations that they said took place in Florida and elsewhere in the 2000 election, wrote to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan in July, asking him to send observers.
I’m thinking this is a symbolic gesture by the State Department to enhance the legitimacy of
the elections inspection process in other countries.
Still, the idea of a bunch of dysfunctional / barbaric governments passing judgment on our
election is amusing.
Comment by Danny Taggart — 8/10/2004 @ 2:57 am
We pesky foreigners arn’t to be trusted. After all, our brains are far too small to comprehend the complexities and subtleties of a US presidential election. We are simple folk, far more used to antequated ideas like “one man, one vote” and paper-trails on our ballots.
With a bit of luck, the no-fly list and airport facial recognition will weed out our untrustworthy faces upon arrival, and avoid any meddling in an otherwise sound, fair and secret commercial election.
Comment by Coofer Cat — 9/25/2004 @ 10:52 am