There is a great temptation to spend the words of this article saying ‘I told you so’, but I will resist that temptation because I will not be guilty of defaming the Iraqi elections as those who doubted such an event could happen have for the past months.
Today was a great day for democracy, liberty, and freedom and is to the great historical list of the events that represent the advance of those causes throughout history. Today, a people who have not known freedom for more than half a century have taken their first step toward being free.
The results are still tentative, but no less compelling. Today, as many as 8 million free Iraqis participated in their first open election since the Baath party took power in Iraq. Today as much as 60% of the nations registered voters dodged threats and acts of violence to make a choice for themselves as to who will lead them through the next phase of their nations progress toward democracy.
Moreover, all of this happened in the face of a world that, in great majority believed that such a thing could not be done in Iraq. In fact, many of these detractors wanted the elections in Iraq to fail as proof that the US policy of liberating the Iraqi people from their bonds of tyranny was flawed and unjust.
Will these detractors now celebrate with these same Iraqis as they lay claim to the prize that such a benevolent liberation brought? Will they join with Iraq and its allies as it strides toward putting the dark days of the Baath regime behind it?
Whatever their choice, Iraq has held its much debated elections, and whatever the outcome of those elections, the Iraqi people have taken the first step toward determining for themselves what their new nation will be. These things are great victories for Iraq and for the world, and for today, I join in their joy at having found the freedom all men long for.
Tomorrow will bring its own set of tests. Iraq still has a long way to go on its path to liberty. I will stand with the people of that nation then too, stalwart as they were when they went to the polls under threat of death. As much as I am able to do so, I will work to ensure that my nation sees through the work it has begun, because liberty is a gift all people should have. Will you stand with them too?
DLK 20050130
