Election day in Iraq

Reports coming out of Iraq indicate that voter turnout in the January 30, 2005 Iraqi elections will be approximately 72 percent. That is a higher turnout than any American Presidential election in American history. When one considers that generally Americans don't have to worry about being bombed or shot as they stand in line to vote, the Iraqi elections seem like an even more remarkable success story. Mark Steyn writes about the maturity and political dexterity of the Iraqi political leaders:

When you consider the behavior of the Shia and Kurdish parties, they've been remarkably shrewd, restrained and responsible. They don't want to blow their big rendezvous with history and rejoin the rest of the Middle East in the fetid swamp of stable despotism. The naysayers in the Democratic Party and the U.S. media are so obsessed with Rumsfeld getting this wrong and Condi getting that wrong and Bush getting everything wrong that they've failed to notice just how surefooted both the Kurds and Shiites have been -- which in the end is far more important. The latter, for example, have adopted a moderate secular pitch entirely different from their co-religionists mullahs over the border. In fact, as partisan pols go, they sound a lot less loopy than, say, Barbara Boxer.

The events in Iraq today demonstrate how wrongheaded Democrat leader Ted Kennedy was when he proposed a withdraw of American troops just three days before the Iraqi elections. When it comes to sending messages that embolden freedom's enemies and demoralize freedom's allies, the Democrats are the champions. Fortunately for Americans, Iraqis and the free world, President Bush has chosen to advance democracy and freedom rather than appease terrorists at every turn.

As we reflect on Iraq's first election day, what first comes to mind is the determination of the Iraqi voters. Today is also a day to commemorate the sacrifices given by American and coalition military men and women, including Iraqi security forces. This day would not happened if it weren't for the courage of these brave people. Some final questions: Will the today's election in Iraq reduce the murderous impact of the terrorists there? Will "people power" spread to other Arab nations and force Arab dictators to make additional moves towards democracy?

UPDATE: The voter turnout in this Iraqi election might end up being somewhere between 55 and 61 percent. Is estimated that about 8 million Iraqis voted.

Also here are some additional items related to the election:

A New York Times story describing a party atomosphere in the streets of Iraq throughout election day and a statement from President Bush describing the elections as a success.