Seventy-two percent of eligible voters in Iraq turned out to vote. Election officials have backtracked a bit from that percentage, saying it's more likely around sixty percent. Of course, there's also no way to independently verify any of this because the international observers who usually monitor such things were---ahem---too chickenshit to show up (they were afraid they'd be kidnapped). Still, though, it's awe-inducing.
Mohammed and Omar say it best:
{...}The sounds of explosions and gunfire were clearly heard, some were far away but some were close enough to make the windows of the center shake but no one seemed to care about them as if the people weren't hearing these sounds at all.I saw an old woman that I thought would get startled by the loud sound of a close explosion but she didn't seem to care, instead she was busy verifying her voting station's location as she found out that her name wasn't listed in this center.
How can I describe it!? Take my eyes and look through them my friends, you have supported the day of Iraq's freedom and today, Iraqis have proven that they're not going to disappoint their country or their friends.
Is there a bigger victory than this? I believe not.{...}
Go read the whole thing.
While this victory did not come without costs, I, for one, am more than willing to pay the price demanded. It was our pleasure, my friends, to be able to share our liberty with you.
I am so happy for you!
Posted by Kathy at January 30, 2005 12:27 PM