Senator Jim Talent says the Iraqi people and the troops in Iraq seem ready for the planned January elections. One of the concerns is the influence Iran might have over the elections. Talent says many Iraqis do share a common religion with the fundamentalist Islamic state just to the east – Iran. Talent has visited with commanders and troops on the ground in the region, and he believes they will be able to provide the security necessary to make the elections run smoothly. The Senator also suggests that maybe American politicians can teach Iraqi politicians how to campaign. He says the lack of campaign experience of Iraqis is understandable.
