The Really Important Iraqi Election

Don't Forget to Vote! Time is running out to elect the winner in the Iraq the Model banner contest. Of course, those who are unfamiliar with Iraq the Model and who haven't read stories like "Pro-American Iraqi Blog Provokes Intrigue and Vitriol" in the New York Times might not know about the controversy surrounding the site, which critics allege to be a CIA front.

The ITM blog first appeared in November 2003 and was advertised as the product of a triumverate of Iraqi brothers. It was winning "best blog" contests by 2004 by margins that would make any international electoral observer suspicious. Such acclaim was particularly mysterious, because ITM lacked the obvious literary merit of the work of more competent Iraqi wordsmiths who were getting book deals, such as Salam Pax of Where is Raed or the author of Riverbend.

After ITM brother Ali sent his December 19, 2004 "Dear John" letter resigning from the blog at the height of the media frenzy, many thought that Iraq the Model would go dark. Once the first of the three founding brothers left, the remaining two would surely follow . . . wouldn't they? But one year later the naysayers have been proven wrong, and if anything this duo of dentist-bloggers seems to have inspired more imitators who simultaneously wave the U.S. and Iraqi national flags. In fact, the Iraq the Model site is apparently in such good health that it will soon be getting a webstyle make-over for the start of the New Year.

So, to help you visualize how each Iraq the Model banner might wave in cyberspace over their staunchly pro-occupation blog, this webpage has some sample mock-ups to help you decide.

Remember, I'm counting on you to cast your ballot before the polls close on Thursday.