Polls close in Iraq
Iraq’s deeply divided Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds voted under heavy guard Saturday to decide the fate of a new constitution aimed at establishing democracy after more than two decades of Saddam Hussein’s repressive rule.
A day that U.S. and Iraqi leaders feared could turn bloody turned out to be the most peaceful in months.
Insurgents attacked five of Baghdad’s 1,200 polling stations with shootings and bombs, wounding seven voters. But the only deaths were those of three Iraqi soldiers in a roadside bomb far from a polling site, and there were no major attacks reported as U.S. and Iraqi forces clamped down with major security measures around balloting sites.
The United States hopes the constitution will be approved so Iraqis can form a permanent, representative government and secure the country so Washington can start withdrawing its 150,000 troops.
In the south, Shiite women in head-to-toe veils and men emerged from the poll stations flashing victory signs with fingers stained with purple ink, apparently responding in mass to the call by their top cleric to support the charter.
I really just wanted to highlight this next quote.
“This is all wrong. I said ‘no’ to a constitution written by the Americans,” said Jilan Shaker, 22, a laborer who showed up at an Azamiyah polling station in shorts and plastic sandals.
I wonder how long this reporter had to fish before he got the anti-American quote he wanted. He provides one quote, and it’s negative. It’s never good enough for these people. No matter what good America does, we’re always going to be portrayed as the bad guy. Despite the terrorists, despite the MSM, despite all the naysayers, Iraq will prevail. Count on it.
Photo from U.S. Army
Other’s talking about it:
Michelle Malkin
The Conservative Cat
Kokonut Pundits
October 15th, 2005 21:42
I am mostly pleased that he is allowed to vote against it, in Iran that would not be the case. So maybe America’s horrible oppression is less horrible than Noam Chomsky would have us believe. Either that or we suck at oppression.
October 15th, 2005 22:17
It’s not that he’s voting against it, it’s the anti-American sentiment that bothers me. I really think(hope) the reporter spent effort trying to find someone who would say something negative about the U.S. involvement. I know it varies from region to region, but it sounds like most of the people are glad we are there and that we intervened. We most definitely suck at oppression though. Way out of practice.
October 16th, 2005 22:11
Also the New York Times deserves some credit for using the following quote:
“‘I voted then, for Saddam, of course, because I was afraid,’ said Jabar Ahmed Ismail, 75, living on a $100-a-month pension from a lifetime as an oil pipeline repairman. ‘But this time, I came here by my own choice. I am not afraid anymore. I am a free man.’”
October 16th, 2005 22:45
That is pretty remarkable for the NY Times. I am truly shocked. Awesome quote, isn’t that great to hear?
October 17th, 2005 01:51
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