Schadenfreude

Two Felte/on's....Felten And Felton. Viewpoints and Discussion From Two Old War Horses

Friday, January 28, 2005

No News Like Good News

In keeping with my resolution to report only good news about Iraq, I give you this and this.

As for the latter story, it would seem that at least as far as the Shiites are concerned, the hope of a free Iraq is tangible:

[...]

The U.S. ambassador in Baghdad, John Negroponte, insisted some Sunnis will turn out to vote. "Sunnis don't only live in some of these beleagered provinces, they live here in Baghdad, they live in other parts of the country," Negroponte said on CBS's "The Early Show." "I think you're going to see participation across the board."

Iraq's Shiite Muslim majority is eager to vote, expecting the election to establish their domination of the country after decades of repression. Sunni Arabs, however, may follow calls by some leaders to boycott the vote — or may be intimidated by the violence that has been at its worst in mainly Sunni regions north and west of Baghdad.

Expatriate Iraqis began casting ballots amid tight security in early voting in 14 countries from Australia to Sweden to the United States.

"This is a long dream that now comes true," said 56-year-old Karim Jari before casting his vote in Sydney, Australia, where young children mingled in line with elderly Kurdish women in head-to-toe black robes and men in colorful traditional costumes. "We hope this is a new beginning."


[...]

I am a little envious of excitement regarding elections in Iraq. I wish Americans could still feel they're making a difference in the direction of their country.

Iraq Expatriate Votes in Texas.jpg
AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Then again, at least we don't have bombings and beheading surrounding our elections. We just have this.

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