Millions of voters braved the threat of bombs and bullets to participate in yesterday’s Parliamentary elections in Iraq. As usual, the terrorists tried to intimidate voters but again as usual, the sorry few cowards could not intimidate the courageous majority. What a triumph for democracy.
In the election’s aftermath, Mithal al-Alusi, an Iraqi Parliamentarian up for re-election, told a member of the Australian media he thanks former U.S. President George W. Bush and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Here is what he said:
”Whoever would have imagined this day would ever come? I think you people in the West, who criticise those two great leaders, don’t understand that it is beginning to work. We are the beginning of true democracy in the Middle East and it is starting to spread and have an impact on the other countries.”
Last week I spoke with Mr. Alusi, whom I have interviewed many times through the years, and whose words and brave actions have blazed a trial towards a brighter future in Iraq. He is optimistic that the Iraqi Nation Party, his grassroots, secular party, which champions human rights, free press, and alliance with other democracies, will gain an additional seat in the Parliament in this election.
More to come.
2 Comments
Thank you for continuing to report on this. It is striking that you are one of the only journalists who acknowledges the fact that slowly but surely, democracy is being achieved in the region. More importantly, you also illuminate the positive aspects of the Bush administration’s Mid-East policy, which most other journalists are quick to dismiss and criticize. Bravo!
Nice. It looks like the election is progressing well and the preliminary results will be released on Thursday:
Iraq’s electoral commission will announce on Thursday the partial results of this week’s parliamentary election as Prime Minister expected to emerge as the front-runner.
Partial results from Iraq’s parliamentary election will be released on Thursday, the country’s electoral commission said on Wednesday.
“I think it’s fair to say the world has been impressed by the professional way that these elections have taken place.”
Ad Melkert, special UN envoy “The counting is taking place normally (and) there is no problem,” the deputy head of the Iraqi High Electoral Commission Hamdiya al-Husseini said on Wednesday. “Partial results will be announced tomorrow.”
Asked when final results from the Sunday poll would be ready, Husseini said “we are working normally but we cannot say when we will declare the final results.”
The commission has already announced that partial results would be announced once at least 30 percent of ballots had been counted.
Husseini’s remarks were confirmed by Ad Melkert, the special United Nations envoy, at a news conference.
“Tomorrow there will be a preliminary result,” Melkert said.
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/03/11/102718.html
Let’s hope that whatever group(s) fail to prevail in the election will nevertheless agree to abide by the results.
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