Frederic Pearson, director of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, is quoted in an article about former Iraqis in Michigan who will be voting by absentee ballot in Iraq\'s first national election. Including expatriates living in the United States in the voting process may give the impression that this country is manipulating the outcome, he said. \"They will be viewed by some as a foreign element. It's a strange kettle of fish to have external people voting in an election like this."