(From L to R) Iraqi election candidates

NAJAF, IRAQ: (From L to R) Iraqi election candidates Nadia Hashim al-Musawi, Nawal Abdel Rida, Fariha Kazem, Shahla Abbas and Anwar Ali Rida, meet journalists at the Human Right Center in the Iraqi Holy city of Najaf, south of Baghdad, 25 January 2005. US officials are looking to Sunday's elections in Iraq for the first glimmer of an exit strategy, even if they leave the country far short of the stable democracy once promised, analysts said. AFP PHOTO/MARWAN NAAMANI-POOL (Photo credit should read MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP via Getty Images)