Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, whose sole task is to stay alive while keeping my seat warm, continues to insist that the elections will take place at the end of this month. This, despite stepped up violence throughout the country. In fact, just in the last day, there have been three more suicide bombings.

That raises an interesting question: How come you never hear about any veteran suicide bombers?

Anyway, Allawi goes on to say that once the elections are held, the violence will drop off. He does NOT say why he thinks this will happen, or whether he also believes in the tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny.

When my sons were killed, it was predicted that the violence would diminish; it didn't.

After I was captured, the experts said the insurgency would die down; it didn't.

It was expected that after the transfer of power last June, the resistance would die; again, it didn't.

So then why would elections make a difference? It will only get worse, especially since many of the Sunni parties have dropped out of the running. And regardless of whether they participate in the voting or not, there's no way the Sunni population will allow themselves to be governed by Shiites.