From Holden:

The last time an “election” was held in Iraq was October 16, 2002. 11,445,638 eligible voters cast ballots that day, 100% of which were tallied in favor of keeping Saddam Hussein in power. As with the election held yesterday, celebrations erupted throughout the streets of Iraq after the 2002 election.

Although the reported 100% support for Hussein is laughably ficticious, the words of one of Saddam’s officials at the time ring true today.

“If the U.S. administration makes a mistake and attacks Iraq, we will fight them,” [Izzat] Ibrahim [vice chairman of Iraq’s Revolutionary Command Council] said. “If they come, we will fight them in every village, and every house. Every house will be a front, and every Iraqi will have a role in the war.”