A fledgling democracy seems to have moved past testing the water to cannonballing into the deep end.
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqis voted in a historic parliamentary election Thursday, with strong turnout reported in Sunni Arab areas and even a shortage of ballots in some precincts. Several explosions rocked Baghdad throughout the day, but the level of violence was low.
The heavy participation by the Sunnis, who had shunned balloting last January, bolstered U.S. hopes of calming the insurgency enough to begin withdrawing its troops next year.
Because of the large turnout, the Iraqi election commission extended voting for one hour, until 6 p.m. (10 a.m. EST) as long lines were reported in some precincts, said commission official Munthur Abdelamir. The commission said results will be announced within two weeks.
[...]
"The number of people participating is very, very high and we have had very few irregularities," U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad told The Associated Press. "It is a good day so far, good for us, good for Iraq."
There are still problems between the sects.
Many others who turned out in Fallujah, which was overrun by U.S. forces in November 2004, saw the election as a way to get rid of the Americans and the Shiite-dominated government.
"It's an extremist government. We would like an end to the occupation," said Ahmed Majid, 31. "Really the only true solution is through politics. But there is the occupation and the only way that will end is with weapons."
I thought the only true solution was through politics? The US appears to have this vote in perspective.
U.S. officials said a successful election alone will not end the insurgency. Also needed is a government capable of reconciling Iraq's disparate groups.
The Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds will need to find a way to reconcile enough of their differences and avoid marginalizing any group in order for this to work. That's why high turnout among the Sunnis is vital. If enough Sunnis and Kurds are elected then working with the Shiites to make it work and protect each group's freedoms will be the only way.
Still, in less than a year Iraq will have had three successful elections, and most Iraqis take joy in that freedom to vote. That alone gives hope.
AFP - Thu Dec 15,11:38 AM ET
An Iraqi policeman guards a line of civilains waiting to cast their votes in the Sunni city of Mosul. Sunni Arabs voted in droves in Iraq's election, determined to make their voice heard and boost their meagre representation in parliament following a boycott of polls in January.(AFP/Mujahed Mohammed)
So I'm sitting at the table, telling her about the donkey crapstorm, and the old man, and the voting chicks, and she's like "mmm hmm," while she's frying up some chick peas. Then she comes over to the table with the pan and I notice something odd: she's got a purple finger.
She gives me this sheepish look from her eye slit, and she says it was "a burn from kitchen accident."
I don't know, dude. Something weird is going on around here.
12/15/05 1440: A huge post at Austin Bay, many Iraqis quoted. And The Political Teen sums up reaction.
