Iraq's Purple Finger Of Democracy

'The Purple Sea Urchin of Democracy'

Today belongs to the people of Iraq, and we wish them both a speedy and  successful path to the freedom  of democracy.

"In spite of the violence, Iraqis have met every milestone,” President Bush said in Washington.

As the Iraqis begin to vote with the first blast heard in Baghdad, they vote in their first parliamentary election since the country's constitution was raffled in October.

The new Parliament called The Council of Representatives will form a Government to run the country for a full four year term.

We must not forget that all this would not be possible without the brave American soldiers who daily give up their lives and their freedom for the freedom of Iraq.

Nearly 160,000 U.S. soldiers are on hand as we speak, to support Iraq's security forces, and although they aim to keep their distance from polling booths, they will intervene if needed.

I will bring you updates throughout the day, as the elections progress. Omar from Iraq The Model will be live blogging from Iraq as will the others under the anonymity veil of Pajamas Media. The eight Iraqi provinces covered are: Erbil, Kirkuk, Mosul, Babil, Najaf, Kerbala, Samawa, Basra as well as Baghdad of course.

All too many times the terrorism threat has been real in Iraq for the journalists, and therefore their safety is paramount.

"The deployment of Iraqi security forces on the streets is heavy with a noticeable absence of American forces except for their presence in the skies; there are many Apache helicopters and jet fighters as well as small surveillance planes al over Baghdad." according to Omar @ Iraq The Model.

From the ever diligent Michelle Malkin who gives us the list of the bloggers with the most extensive coverage: Iraqi Bloggers Central No End But Victory
Winds of Change Blackfive Election analysis from Hassan at RedState
Raise a Purple Finger for Freedom, and reminds us:

"Two years ago this week, U.S. forces yanked Saddam Hussein out of his miserable rathole." Heh.

Michelle leads us to The Jerusalem Post:

"Saddam Hussein's Iraqi Air Force dropped dozens of gas-filled bombs on this Kurdish town in 1988. About 5,000 civilians died immediately"

For the Kurds, Democracy in Iraq is their sweetest revenge.

Another classic from Michelle: Look at how American troops are "terrorizing" Iraqi families. (site momentarily down)

The WaPo reminds us that the stakes are high, for the Iraqis as well as the US.

Al-Zarqawi threatens Iraqi poll, and solidifies the similarities with the hysterical and deranged "Thug-In-Chief" Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, when he issues a statement on behalf of al-Qa'eda:

"a blessed conquest to shake up the bastions of non-believers and apostates and to ruin the 'democratic' wedding of heresy and immorality".

Indeed. Democracy to him would be immoral, it may mean attaining the freedom he is fighting so hard to supress.

Let us have a look at how The Political Chart would pan out:

The NYT as always takes the 'positive view', and discusses the ushering in of political maneuvering amidst the split between Secular and Islamist parties.

Ed Morrissey @ Captain's Quarters weighs in, late last night on the eve of The Elections:

"Those forces, primarily Sunni, have instead switched to defending the Sunni minority in order to guarantee a high turnout for Sunni voters and their slate of candidates. The rumored strong turnout appears to have been encouraged by these native terrorists, keen on ensuring that the Sunnis get represented in the four-year government in much better proportion than their boycott left them last January.

We will find out soon enough whether that strategy paid off and whether the Sunni make themselves a part of the new and democratic Iraq. Hopefully the results will encourage these native "insurgents" to give up the bullet for the ballot permanently, further isolating al-Qaeda and Zarqawi. It won't fail for lack of courage on the part of the ordinary Iraqis, who proudly display their purple fingers as the new symbol of defiance and courage. The cowardice of the terrorists cannot hope to triumph over them."

The London Times  notes what a difference a year makes in Iraqi politics. "Eleven months ago, when this country went to the polls, candidates and voters participated in their first democratic experiment in the face of death threats and suicide bombings.

Election day looked more like a military operation than an exercise in people power. Cynics discounted the process as doomed to failure because violence had made normal campaigning impossible. The result was distorted by the boycott of the Sunni Muslim community, a fifth of the population."

From Edd, one of my readers:

"Let us pray that the Iraqi people vote and take one more step to democracy and freedom. My son is 35 years-old and has already fought in three wars Dessert Storm, Afghanistan and again in Iraq. It is my most fervid wish that his efforts have not been in vain."

Sigmund Carl & Alfred dispenses with any myths that may have festered over the years, starting with the favorite: "Arab governments when left alone, and without Western interference, govern responsibly".

Thank you to Real Clear Politics for these gems here  here,  here and the controversial 'Jihad or Ballot Box' here.

Judith Weiss @ Kesher Talk who has the map to the Road of Sovereignty.

Winds Of Change: "Here in the US, our political leaders come from Yale. In Iraq, they come from a Jesuit high school called Baghdad College."

Kevin Aylward @ Wizbang reminds us that "Democracy is a Family Affair, and a little something from Senator Joe Biden, just in case you were in a good mood. (Thanks to Gateway Pundit via Michelle Malkin)

Ann Althouse quotes an acquaintance "We will talk to each other, and we will connect with each other, and we will weave the country together like a piece of cloth."

"The encounter with democracy is so new, so deeply meaningful, that it moves the average person to speak poetry." Indeed Ann.

The Glittering World has the best Iraqi bloggers round up.

Matt Margolis @ Blogs For Bush points us to   Video of Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX), on the House floor about the historic elections...

More from Mary Katharine Ham @ Hugh Hewitt.

And Gina Cobb that talented young blogger brings in the high note: "Iraq has now joined the company of nations that are blessed to know the difference between tyranny and democracy" and points us to   Voting Underway in Iraq: And Thugs Say "Stop" in the Name of Allah. Really.

Jay @ Stop The ACLU, California Conservative, Roger Simon keeps us updated and abreast with Pajamas Media...my friend George @  Alamo Nation, The Indepundit Fausta @  Bad Hair Blog Mudville  Gazette The Real Ugly American (who is probably a real hunk!) Bill Faith @ The Small Town Veteran

THIS POST WILL BE UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Comments

[daverik]

@Edd
Thank to all american soldiers who are risking them life for the freedom of the Iraqi population. Every new day in Iraq, it is a new step toward the democracy.
In this really important process, you are not alone.
David
Italy

[Bill Faith]

Don't know why my TypePad blog can't leave trackbacks on your TypePad blog. I linked from  http://smalltownveteran.typepad.com/posts/2005/12/election_day_in.html

[Gina Cobb]

Linked post:

May God Bless Iraq

Excerpt:

"Iraq has now joined the company of nations that are blessed to know the difference between tyranny and democracy."

[Wahrheit]

And I'd like to add that I discovered your beautiful and intelligent blog just yesterday through a comment at Gates of Vienna and will be putting it on the blogroll today.

Thank you for providing your readers with such pleasure. Mucho Gusto!

[Wahrheit]

Here is a great blog by an Iraqi man, a "free man!" as he says, that you might enjoy:

http://justsooni.blogspot.com/

Mr. President you started something and yes you are responsible to go on and never stop until democracy is a worldwide spoken language and a way of life. And that will be the Total Victory.

[sigmund, carl and alfred]

SC&A Trackback
Iran, Arabs And Thank You, President Mahmoud Ahmandinejad

It is ironic to note that the deafening silence from the Arab world, in response to the remarks of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmandinejad's remarks may have succeeded where the efforts of the world's diplomats have failed: Europe and America are closer to a rapprochement than they have been in decades.

[Alexandra]

Hear hear Edd, we are all very grateful for the sincere bravery soldiers like your son have demonstrated to us in every single battle undertaken. May God Bless him and keep him safe in the knowledge that in these days to come, the Iraqi people will prove that indeed his efforts have not been in vain.

[Edd]

Let us pray that the Iraqi people vote and take one more step to democracy and freedom. My son is 35 years-old and has already fought in three wars Dessert Storm, Afghanistan and again in Iraq. It is my most fervid wish that his efforts have not been in vain.