The Coalition of the Willing Includes Iraqis

The coalition of the willing has a new partner – the Iraqi people. More than 8 million Iraqis (over 60 percent of the eligible total, including at least one intrepid Israeli of Iraqi origin who voted by absentee ballot in Amman) braved violence both threatened and real, and the disdain of the international community and American naysayers to cast a ballot.

The coalition of the willing has a new partner – the Iraqi people. More than 8 million Iraqis (over 60 percent of the eligible total, including at least one intrepid Israeli of Iraqi origin who voted by absentee ballot in Amman) braved violence both threatened and real, and the disdain of the international community and American naysayers to cast a ballot.

Pundits said it couldn’t be done, but it was done. The UN sent more election workers to East Timor than to Iraq, but it was done. Not enough time, they said, but it was done. No history of representative government, they said, but no one has it until after the first time. Too much violence, they said, but while 36 people died on election day (press reports say 44, but 8 were the killers and we don’t count them), millions kicked the terrorists in the teeth. Democracy is inconsistent with Islam, they said – oh, excuse us – it was Bin Laden and al Zarkawi who said that, and the Iraqi people listened instead to the Ayatollah al Sistani.

It’s a good thing they weren’t listening to American politicians. Ted Kennedy called it George Bush’s Vietnam, but the Iraqis saw an opportunity to change history while a resolute American president stood behind them, and they took advantage. John Kerry warned against “overhyping” the results, but it is hard to overhype the scenes of Iraqis waving the ubiquitous purple index finger. Agreeing that it was a “great day for democracy,” Evan Bayh nevertheless couldn’t resist a shot at the President. “Frankly, I’m concerned, given some of the past mistakes, whether this leadership team will be capable of (success).” Carl Levin said, “We’ve got to see whether or not the Iraqi people will put their lives on the line in joining the security forces.” What’s he talking about?!?!? HUNDREDS of Iraqi policemen and soldiers have been killed by suicide bombers and THOUSANDS have been injured. Sen. Levin had not a good word for them or the hundreds of other Iraqis who have replaced them. Maybe American voters should take the next opportunity to replace Sen. Levin with someone sentient.

We have a good word for Iraqis today – patriots.

So now what? Democracy isn’t made by elections – although it cannot be made without them. A real, practicing democracy is in the attitudes of the elected leadership, the laws they promote and the growth of a confident NON-governmental sector – press, unions, civic and business leaders, religious leaders NOT of the majority stripe, and regular people who are not afraid to have an opinion. Ultimately, democracy requires an independent legal system that provides equal protection under the law for all citizens regardless of race, gender, religion, ethnicity or party affiliation – something the United States of America didn’t get to for a VERY long time after its founding. We hope the Iraqis get there faster than we did. Can they?

Maybe. Tomorrow will be a good day to begin worrying about the next step in Iraq’s transformation from brutal military dictatorship to consensual government to democracy, and the broader implications for the Middle East. Today is a good day to look at all those purple index fingers and cheer.