 And Iraqis are voting in a general election, many say that they will boycott having lost faith in the democratic system brought in by the U.S. invasion of 2003. The election has been held several months early under a new lower design to help independent candidates. A response to mass anti-government protests two years ago. And where the established armed and sheeted Islamist-dominated ruling elite is expected to sweep the vote. Foreign diplomats and al-Issaid results will not dramatically alter the balance of power in the country or the wider Middle East. The United States Gulf, Arab countries, and Israel on one side and Iran on the other compete for influence in Iraq, which has provided a gateway for Tehran to support militia proxies in Syria and Lebanon.