As I write this the polls are about to close in Iraq's first real election in 50 years. Preliminary reports say overall Iraqi voter turnout was 72% and in some areas, 95%. It would appear Ted Kennedy's eleventh hour bid to bolster terrorist morale has failed. Says Senator Kennedy:
Error is no excuse for its own perpetuation. Mindless determination doesn't make a better outcome more likely. Setting a firm strategy for ending the mission may not guarantee success, but failure to do so will almost certainly guarantee failure. Casualties are increasing. America is tied down. Our military is stretched to the breaking point. Our capacity to respond to crises and threats elsewhere in the world has been compromised.
The terrorists in his audience hear his message and they continue the fight. But the reality is the Iraqi people have won this round.
Suicide bombings at polling stations and rocket attacks have failed to prevent Iraqis turning out in larger than expected numbers to vote in national elections.
With a curfew in place, borders closed, and motor vehicle traffic restricted, millions of Iraqis went to the polls to continue the business of taking control over their lives and taking control of their government. The security measures forced the terrorists into positions of high exposure if they hoped to stage any attacks.
In all but one case, militants were forced to use "human bombs" – men rigged with explosives rather than cars because of a driving ban imposed across the country as an election security measure.
The first free Iraqi election in a half century included women on the ballot and women in the voting lines . Pride, joy, and determination mark the day.
Fathiya Mohammed, 50, proudly held up a thumb stained with the purple ink used to mark those who had voted.
"Am I scared? Of course I'm not scared. This is my country," said the elderly woman, dressed in a head-to-toe abaya, who voted in her neighborhood polling station in the small town of Askan, a mixed Sunni and Shia area.
"This is democracy," she added. "This is the first day I feel freedom"...
At a polling place in eastern Baghdad, an Iraqi policeman in a black ski mask tucked his assault rifle under one arm and held the hand of an elderly blind woman to guide her to the polls...
Across Iraq, joy broke out as the day went on. At one polling place in Baghdad, soldiers and voters joined hands in a dance.
At another Baghdad polling station, a small group ululated as Sharif Ali bin al-Hussein, a descendant of Iraq's last king, went to cast his vote. Ali leads a constitutional monarchy slate in the election.
Baghdad's mayor was overcome with emotion by the turnout of voters at City Hall, where he said thousands were celebrating.
"I cannot describe what I am seeing. It is incredible. This is a vote for the future, for the children, for the rule of law, for humanity, for love," Alaa al-Tamimi told Reuters.
Iraqi blogger, Alaa the Mesopotamian voted and then posted his thoughts, Suicide Bombers v. Suicide Voters.
I bow in respect and awe to the men and women of our people who, armed only with faith and hope are going to the polls under the very real threats of being blown to pieces. These are the real braves; not the miserable creatures of hate who are attacking one of the noblest things that has ever happened to us. Have you ever seen anything like this? Iraq will be O.K. with so many brave people, it will certainly O.K.; I can say no more just now; I am just filled with pride and moved beyond words. People are turning up not only under the present threat to polling stations but also under future threats to themselves and their families; yet they are coming, and keep coming. Behold the Iraqi people; now you know their true metal. We shall never forget the meanness of these bas…s. After this is over there will be no let up, they must be wiped out. It is our duty and the duty of every decent human to make sure this vermin is no more and that no more innocent decent people are victimized.
My condolences to the Great American people for the tragic recent losses of soldiers. The blood of Iraqis and Americans is being shed on the soil of Mesopotamia; a baptism with blood. A baptism of a lasting friendship and alliance, for many years to come, through thick and thin, we shall never forget the brave soldiers fallen while defending our freedom and future.
This is a very hurried message, while we are witnessing something quite extraordinary. I myself have voted and so did members of my family. Thank God for giving us the chance.
Mohammed and Omar at Iraq the Model declared with emotional elegance, "The people have won."
Is there a bigger victory than this? I believe not.
I still recall the first group of comments that came to this blog 14 months ago when many of the readers asked "The Model?"… "Model for what?" Take a look today to meet the model of courage and human desire to achieve freedom; people walking across the fire to cast their votes.
Could any model match this one!? Could any bravery match the Iraqis'!? Let the remaining tyrants of the world learn the lesson from this day.
The media is reporting only explosions and suicide attacks that killed and injured many Iraqis s far but this hasn't stopped the Iraqis from marching towards their voting stations with more determination. Iraqis have truly raced the sun.
I walked forward to my station, cast my vote and then headed to the box, where I wanted to stand as long as I could, then I moved to mark my finger with ink, I dipped it deep as if I was poking the eyes of all the world's tyrants.I put the paper in the box and with it, there were tears that I couldn't hold; I was trembling with joy and I felt like I wanted to hug the box but the supervisor smiled at me and said "brother, would you please move ahead, the people are waiting for their turn".
We've passed another milestone. We can really see now, the tide has turned in favor of liberty. The violence has not been put to an end today, but the courage of the Iraqis has shown the violence for what it is. They've made it irrelevant. Their determination has been largely ignored in the media and ignored by those creatures like Ted Kennedy, who seek political advantage or personal validation in the appearance of chaos. Now the world has been shown Iraqi determination, and the terrorists had better pay heed. Again, the words of Alaa the Mesopotamian,
"After this is over there will be no let up, they must be wiped out. It is our duty and the duty of every decent human to make sure this vermin is no more and that no more innocent decent people are victimized."
The War on Terror continues, and the Battle for Iraq is proving to be a turning point. Prospects for peace in the Middle East continue their upward trend. I believe we live in the most exciting times ever.
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