Iraq Elections

Available at Pajamas Media and Iraq the Model, information on the aftermath of the Iraq Parliamentary elections

Says Mohammed of ITM:

• The total registered voter-count was 1,000,000 higher than in January after adding Iraqi citizens who were born in 1987.


• 15.5 million+ Iraqis cast their votes in more than 30,000 stations spread nationwide.

From overheard TV news reports, some of the polls had to stay open to acccomodate the number of voters. Other polling places ran out of ballots.

It’s great to know that our efforts there are bearing fruit, in spite of what some of of our elected officials would have us believe.

Comments

[langtry]

It really is amazing, isn't it? Each of the two elections that have taken place so far (the first for Prime Minister & the second for Members of Parliament) have come off without the boycotting, chaos and violence that many predicted would occur. Brave Iraqis have gone to the polls in spite of whatever fears they may have held about the potential for "insurgent" attacks.

Days like today give me faith that our soldiers' efforts have been worthit. I feel sick to my stomach every time I see pictures and names of soldiers on "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer" or Stephanopoulos' show, but I know -- with sadness -- that we have no choice but to see this through to a point where the Iraqis are able to protect their own, fragile democracy. Hopefully, their success will inspire other Mid-East countries to demand the same from their theocrats.

[A Christian Prophet]

On the Christian Prophet blog today the Holy Spirit's message, teaching as usual, goes into the feelings Iraqi voters have as they begin to take personal responsibility.

[justin]

This is fantastic. Hopefully the high turn-out means that all sides will respect the process and results.

[tully]

This is a day to remember, and tell your grandchildren about.

[Mescalero]

It would be interesting to see the percentage of eligible Iraqi voters actually voting compared to those eligible American voters who actually take the time to go to the polls to vote. Why do I get this strange feeling that the Iraqis take democracy more seriously than we Americans!

[Eric]

"I categorically reject arguments that this is unattainable due to Iraq's history or its ethnic or sectarian make-up. Iraqis deserve and desire freedom like everyone else. The United States looks forward to a democratically supported regime that would permit us to enter into a dialogue leading to the reintegration of Iraq into normal international life."

- President Clinton

You know, with the incredibly self-centered debate about Iraq and our Iraq strategy we've had in America for the last 3 years, the real gamble has always been on the desire of the Iraqi people to achieve liberal modernity. Even flawless execution and a strategy co-authored by MacArthur and Grant on our part would have been for nothing if the Iraqi people did not want this - as many critics of the mission have claimed.

The President's faith in the Iraqi people has been a liberal faith, and as liberals, all our beliefs have been at stake in our support for the Iraq mission.

Much work remains to be done. More blood and treasure will need to be spent. More debates and controversies await. But today was a good day, a day of faith justified.