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January 30, 2005
Election Followup
10:29 This ends the live-blogging. More coming later today here at The Adventures of Chester. Probably at least two more posts -- more in-depth than the live-blogging. Thanks for stopping by!
10:24 Looks llike Central Command released some new stuff overnight: DECLASSIFIED AERIAL VIDEO FOOTAGE TRACKING INSURGENT ATTACK ON U.S. EMBASSY AVAILABLE, TASK FORCE BAGHDAD TROOPS CAPTURE SEVEN INSURGENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR EMBASSY ROCKET ATTACK, MEDIA ADVISORY: AERIAL VIDEO FOOTAGE OF CENTRAL BAGHDAD DISTRICT RESIDENTS GOING TO POLLING SITES AVAILABLE TO MEDIA, and in Afghanistan, COALITION FORCES RECOVER WEAPONS CACHES.
10:20 Michael Ledeen has this to say on The Corner:
The Iraqi elections are, we can all hope, a lethal blow to the racism of the CIA and the State Dept arabists, all of whom have been saying for decades that democracy just can't work in "that part of the world," because "those people" just aren't capable of democracy. They accordingly saw their role as identifying "our thugs," and getting them into power. The big, brave turnout was an explicit and very dramatic confirmation of the president's view of the war between freedom and tyranny. The Iraqi people want freedom, and they are prepared to risk their lives for it, provided that they get support and half-way decent security.In a similar vein, Powerline has this (ht: Instapundit.com):I hope that the president and his aides draw the obvious lesson: that the other peoples of the region are similar, they are quite capable and fully prepared to govern themselves. If more than seventy per cent of Iraqis voted today, as it seems, imagine how many Iranians would vote. And Syrians, too. And Egytians, and Saudis, and the rest. Think revolution. Please?
Somehow, I had missed the fact that Iraqi expatriates are voting in Syria. Thus, Iraqis living in Syria can participate in a democratic process, but Syrians can't. A bit odd, that, but it's another example of the impact this election could have in the Arab world.
10:16 Just caught some of the political commentary at The Corner on National Review Online, where one writer speculates that it will be Kerry vs. Clinton for the 2008 Democratic nomination. This seems like great news. Most of the dumb things that Kerry said that came back to haunt him occurred in the primaries. Perhaps a repeat will ensue . . . enough about all that . . .
10:11 I'd love to see the ratings stats for Kerry's appearance on Meet the Press this morning. Bet they were low.
10:04 Check out Ali's thoughts at Free Iraqi:
This was my way to stand against those who humiliated me, my family and my friends. It was my way of saying," You're history and you don't scare me anymore". It was my way to scream in the face of all tyrants, not just Saddam and his Ba'athists and tell them, "I don't want to be your, or anyone's slave. You have kept me in your jail all my life but you never owned my soul". It was my way of finally facing my fears and finding my courage and my humanity again.And, as he leaves the polling station:I slept really late but I woke up at 6.30. I shaved (I do this once every century) and dressed as I was going to a party. The phone rang and I let it ring for a while before I answered. "Hey Ba'athist! Why are you still asleep? Why not go and vote?" a friend's voice came through teasing me.
As I left one of the guards said to me as he handed me back my cellular phone,"God bless you and your beloved ones. We don't know how to thank you. Please excuse any inconvinience on our part. We wish we didn't have to search you or limit your freedom. You are heroes."
9:55 Looks like a success! 72% turnout is the number being tossed around. Iraqi blogger Hammorabi has this to say:
Today is the day in which the souls of our martyrs comforted!And:Today those who were killed in Iraq or wounded among our friends from the USA and other allies, who helped us to reach this day, are with us again to inscribe their names with Gold for ever!
As we expected the enemies of God and freedom send their mentally retarded cockroaches in some suicidal attacks.On the top of our privileged today are those who were killed in their way for voting. Their names should be perpetuated for ever! Their names should be written in Gold in Al-Fordos Square in Baghdad!
Our thanks go to George W Bush who will enter the history as the leader of the freedom and democracy in the recent history! He and his people are our friends for ever!
At this moment the voting closed and we will see the results then!
God bless Iraq and America.
Posted by Chester at January 30, 2005 10:03 AM
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