Heroism

Alaa's title for yesterday's entry "Suicide Bombers V. Suicide Voters", became literally true at a Baghdad polling station. 

Abdul Amir Kadhim, saw a man whom he suspected to be a suicide bomber, he threw himself on the man before he could get to the waiting line of people; and sure there was an explosion and this young man gave his life to save the others...

Hammorabi has the same story.

In one incident in Baghdad an Iraqi Hero suspected a terrorist. He chased him! The terrorist run and the Iraqi hero run after him and captured him. The terrorist blows himself with our hero who died to save many lives.

Iraqi heroism was the rule not the exception.  Again from Alaa.

At one station there was a suicide attack and several people fell; when people of the neighborhood heard of this, the waiting line suddenly swelled to three times in size; people rushed out of their homes and came running to wait in line; it was their way to express their defiance and anger at this crime. The examples of bravery and courage are too numerous to recount. People took courage from each other, as people came out others watched and did not want to be left out. It was something incredible to watch. Yes this was a historic day, a day to remember until our dying day. With one stroke, in a single day, the silent majority spoke and answered all the pundits and doubters, and those who spoke on their behalf. Yet we have been telling you this all along...

The dificult task of putting together a constitution lies ahead.  Structuring a government that has the necessary powers to provide security for its citizens in a terrorist world, while at the same time protecting their freedoms will not be an easy undertaking.  But it has been well started.  My hope is that the Transitional National Assembly will carry on as courageously and altruistically as the people who have just elected them.  They have a tough act to follow.  I stand in awe of the Iraqis.

Comments

[Scott]

I would like to see a memorial erected in Iraq to the 35 who lost their lives trying to vote on Sunday.

[Tom Bowler]

We're watching a beginning. It's going to be quite a story when it all comes down and there will be heroes, villains, and goats. When we look back 20 years from now, who will be who I wonder.