Iraqi Elections

Well, I'm glad to see that the elections in Iraq have went well. Initial reports had a turn out of over 70% of eligible voters. That's more successful and... ahem... more "legitimate" than U.S. election which hover around 50%. But by now, that number had decreased to 60%. Still impressive considering the conditions that exist there. Hell, if that was happening in here, Americans would stay home.

Of topic for a second. I was watching the History Channel and it was about D-day. Now I got to thinking: Could the U.S. ever fight another war like WWII? Definitely not. We get squeamish about a few thousand soldiers dying. We get outraged when civilians die. Well, on D-day we lost thousands of people in hours and kept throwing more people into the meat grinder knowing that they too were going to get killed. Then the carpet bombing of German cities, knowing that civilians were going to die. Let's face it, Americans don't have the stomach for it any more. It certainly makes me glad, though, that we have the technology to do what we do.

And back... Although, opposition parties to the governments in the coalition are adopting a "wait and see" attitude, I think everyone should be celebrating. How can you minimize this important event? Granted, there is a point to saying that Iraq is not a democracy. But at least this is the platform on which Iraq can get there. When two elections have taken place and a government party has turned over power, I think I will be fully satisfied with what the U.S. has done for the country.