Iraq confounds the prophets of doom
Back to the Iraqi Vote Page

(Filed: 31/01/2005)

That elections are a better thing than tyranny seems a truth so obvious as not to be worth stating. Yet such were the passions aroused by the Iraq war that many Western observers now find themselves hoping, disgracefully, that that country's first free poll will fail.

Left-wing commentators, in Britain as in much of Europe, have focused disproportionately on the difficulties that any state must undergo during a transition process. To many of them, every terrorist bomb, every murdered election official, every sign of heightened military alertness - even the loss of a British aircraft - makes a nonsense of Iraq's democratic aspirations.

Yesterday's high turnout, in defiance of the gunmen, should be celebrated. Of course the Iraqi insurgency is an important story. But this does not explain the loving attention devoted to each setback faced by the forces of order. Compare yesterday's reports with those by the same commentators during South Africa's first democratic election. Then, too, there were many technical problems: electors who were not properly registered, voter intimidation, long queues. But these things were set in their proper context, as the backdrop against which the moving drama of people casting their first ballots was being played out. No one suggested that the clashes between IFP and ANC supporters in Zululand undermined the whole process. No one argued that the backlash by a handful of black homeland chieftains and Boer irreconcilables made South Africa unfit for democracy.

Looking to hang their doubts on something specific, the cynics focus on the ejection of the Sunni Arabs from their traditionally dominant position, and the prospect of a permanent Shia majority. There is plainly some truth in this analysis. A combination of sulkiness and intimidation has led to large-scale abstentions among those who prospered most under the old regime: Saddam's townsmen in Tikrit, for example, seem largely to have stayed at home. Meanwhile, the Shias, sensing that they may be the masters now, have flocked to the polls in huge numbers. None of this, though, is an argument against conducting a ballot. To return to our earlier parallel, no one contended that the likelihood of a permanent ANC majority - or, to make the analogy more precise, a permanent black majority - invalidated the concept of South African democracy. No one wrote sympathetic pieces about the plight of the Afrikaners as they lost their hegemony.

In any case, why assume the worst? It is possible that Iraq will become a second Lebanon, in which different religious groups refuse to accept each other's legitimacy; or a second Iran, led by Shia ayatollahs. Equally, though, Iraq may turn into a secular democracy - imperfect, no doubt, as all states are, but far happier than it was. After all, the Iranian people are clamouring louder than ever against government by their mullahs. It is surely somewhat patronising to believe that their Iraqi co-religionists want to saddle themselves with their own theocracy. Remember that this is an election to a constituent assembly, not a full parliament: though their votes may be few, Sunni Arabs will almost certainly be given a voice in framing the constitution commensurate with their real numbers. The more fair-minded among them have long since accommodated themselves to the new reality.

No democratic election is flawless. It is human nature that the loser in any system should blame the system rather than himself: think, for example, about our own squabbles over postal voting, the West Lothian Question, or the wording of referendums. But, yesterday, Iraq became the most democratic country in the Arab world. What a pity that so many writers who, in other circumstances, are optimists about human progress, should shut their eyes to what is happening. In their determination to say "I told you so", they are coming perilously close to siding with jihadi murderers. Shame on them.

© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2005.

Reply 1 - Posted by: RT Atlanta, 1/30/2005 7:37:25 PM It seems to me that the only people who are not excited and optimistic about the new Iraq democracy are the Democrats and the terrorists..

Reply 2 - Posted by: osu mom, 1/30/2005 7:39:23 PM Kerry's famous words, "line of demarkation, if you will"...geeezzzeee...and, to hear him you'd think the election was all his idea...abeit this one was not a true representation.

Reply 3 - Posted by: Fledrmaus, 1/30/2005 7:47:18 PM The closing paragraph is the best; the leftists and anti-Americans are determined to say "I told you so" no matter what the consequences to the people who would have to live in a failed Iraq.

Reply 4 - Posted by: turveydrop, 1/30/2005 8:05:27 PM The comparison of the different media reaction to South Africa's election and the Iraqi one is very apposite.

Reply 5 - Posted by: god of irony, 1/30/2005 8:12:16 PM No of these experts should be allowed back on TV until they publically apologize for being wrong and attempting to undermine America.

Reply 6 - Posted by: Jammer2, 1/30/2005 8:16:24 PM What is the Left so upset about? Didn't Hamas sweep to victory in the Gaza Strip city council elections? They should be out in the streets celebrating victories when they get them.

Reply 7 - Posted by: mythman, 1/30/2005 8:17:29 PM This needed to be said, and the Telegraph Staff has expressed it uncommonly well.

Reply 8 - Posted by: Sunflower, 1/30/2005 8:17:32 PM Ditto #5, but right now, they're at home gnashing their teeth, so upset they can't talk, this wasn't supposed to happen, President Bush wasn't to bring Freedom to the Iraqis. Now that he has, they're beside themselves, for they never would have done what President Bush and our Brave Military did, bring Democracy to Iraq.

Reply 9 - Posted by: amereagle, 1/30/2005 8:32:09 PM Today's transnational-progressive-marxist Democrats, aren't democratic at all. Truman and JFK would be ashamed of what the leftistfascists have done to their party.

Reply 10 - Posted by: rehash, 1/30/2005 8:38:29 PM But, yesterday, Iraq became the most democratic country in the Arab world. What a pity that so many writers who, in other circumstances, are optimists about human progress, should shut their eyes to what is happening. In their determination to say 'I told you so', they are coming perilously close to siding with jihadi murderers. Shame on them. Sorry to disappoint you, Telegraph staff, but the people whom you are shaming are absolutely incapable of experiencing shame.

Reply 11 - Posted by: Calico Al, 1/30/2005 8:40:35 PM This should make the loonie left loonier. I can't wait to hear the comments from them.

Reply 12 - Posted by: GettaClue, 1/30/2005 8:46:27 PM Hey, let's not over-hype this. J. F'n K.

Reply 13 - Posted by: chief, 1/30/2005 8:47:40 PM Iraq confounds the prophets of doom and it's all George W. Bush's fault. XIN LOI ONG

Reply 14 - Posted by: ForNow, 1/30/2005 8:49:05 PM The left is so lost in psychological projection — it is the graceless spiteful left which cannot admit mistakes — that’s one of the many poisons with which Chomsky has flooded the left.

Reply 15 - Posted by: cdihlmrk, 1/30/2005 9:04:38 PM Imagine Truman, Kennedy, or Scoop Jackson's reaction to the birth of democracy in the Middle East. Now look at the current Dem leadership's hope for its' failure just to gain political points against Bush. That's why I'm not a Democrat anymore.

Reply 16 - Posted by: Tulsa, 1/30/2005 9:06:24 PM the beeb has been printing and airing leftist propaganda and flat out LIES since WW2 all over eu. old media in the US has done the same dayum thing in the US. We didn't know it until Fox News arrived on the scene a scant 5 ? years ago ...and the internet took off and half the Country bought pcs in the mid to late 90's. al jazeera has nothing on US old media and the beeb. Rush L. has been a voice in the wilderness. I'd never heard about him until 2000 and I mostly admire him today.

Reply 17 - Posted by: Grandpa, 1/30/2005 9:06:36 PM I loved that picture on TV of the large group of Iraqis that had just voted showing their ink stained middle finger to Ted Kennedy.

Reply 18 - Posted by: felix318, 1/30/2005 9:07:03 PM America's no. 1 enemy is not the terrorists. It's the Democrats.

Reply 19 - Posted by: GreatPlains, 1/30/2005 9:14:05 PM The left continues to corkscrew themselves into the ground of irrelevance. They could have boarded the train of freedom , but, instead they chose to throw rocks at the windows. Now the Democrats are left running down the tracks, sucking in the fumes of the Bush train of freedom.

Reply 20 - Posted by: Douglas DC, 1/30/2005 9:18:36 PM "Rally Round the Flag" Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys Rally once again, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom We will rally from the hillside We'll gather from the plains, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom! Something the current crop of Dem Politicos have not a clue.

Reply 21 - Posted by: steph_gray, 1/30/2005 9:28:20 PM ...they are coming perilously close to siding with jihadi murderers... Wrong, the left is already there and seems always to have been there. Uh, by the way, I haven't had a chance to see news elsewhere - who won? I think it was Fred Barnes who said a couple of days ago that the likely winners were the religious sect that's in the majority (not the Sunnis), and that it had never made sense that many Arab countries are ruled not by their majorities but by tyrants of some radical minority. It immediately struck me that the left hates democratic majorities (especially the American one that voted for Dubya). No wonder they don't like this election.

Reply 22 - Posted by: Blackeagle, 1/30/2005 9:30:44 PM Only a 72% turnout? That's pathetic - Saddam used to get a reliable 99.9% turnout and U.S. Democrats, in some urban districts, manage 110%!

Reply 23 - Posted by: Dick, 1/30/2005 9:32:36 PM I like the purple ink idea. If we started that here, we could take back Philadelphia.

Reply 24 - Posted by: Doris2, 1/30/2005 9:40:03 PM I couldn't stand to listen to any negative media today. This was a day to celebrate freedom and democracy and John Kerry had to begin the day with so much negativity. It didn't take long to switch to Fox News where I can find some positive happy folk. I know Geraldo was happy today for the people of Iraq. At least he has switched to the right side of history. My heart was overflowing with joy for this historic day. Tears welled up when I saw the purple finger of a small child, I hope all the negative pundits cry in their beer tonight. This day was trully a joyous day as the day George Bush won the election. Peggy N. it's called ''freedom'' and if I could I would say it as many times as you can't stand it.

Reply 25 - Posted by: kennowen, 1/30/2005 9:43:31 PM A truly historic day! (Unfortunately the MSM would rather concentrate on John Kerry.

Reply 26 - Posted by: michiganrepublican, 1/30/2005 9:46:15 PM #23 - With the purple ink thing, I think GWB would also have taken Michigan. Lets go for it.

Reply 27 - Posted by: PenDragon, 1/30/2005 9:46:22 PM Dubya can be proud of the Iraqi people - they are a courageous people and are shaking off their bondage. He now has cause for hope - we can all share in this pride and hope - and we have the vision of GW Bush and the muscle of the mighty US Military to thank for this great day in the history of the world. Together - the President, the US Military and the Iraquis have let loose a mighty force - liberty - intended by GOD ALMIGHTY for all people. Once obtained it is remarkably difficult for a tyrant to take it back. Delighted to disappoint the hand-wringing Euro Weinies, the sociopathic DemonRATS, and the terrorists!

Reply 28 - Posted by: Tulsa, 1/30/2005 9:47:18 PM thank you for noting the ink is purple, but blue. purple is a mix of red and blue. We could take back more than philly if we had National voting standards, bc the left is getting very very good at stealing. I am incensed that my single vote is up against the massive fraud of the dnc....When machines are delivered to precints with 3000+ votes already cast for the dnc. candidates. That is beyond criminal. We have fine men dying for our freedom and we put up with this BLEEP in America? I am disgusted and I want something done. I'm on it. You be on it too.

Reply 29 - Posted by: placergolddigger, 1/30/2005 10:08:14 PM Our fallen soldiers have not died in vain.

Reply 30 - Posted by: Vast Right Winger, 1/30/2005 10:10:27 PM THe Evil Left takes another hit.

Reply 31 - Posted by: WhatMediaBias, 1/30/2005 10:18:29 PM Kerry warns of 'over-hyping' the elections. The absolute king of over-hyping (Vietnam, Purple Hearts, rescuing hamsters, etc.,etc.....) speaks. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Reply 32 - Posted by: TheTech, 1/30/2005 10:46:27 PM There is only word in understanding the Left. That word is "FEAR". We must be ever-vigilant as they have shown their true colors by their efforts to talk down the success in Iraq! The only possible good news is that some of the still salvageable journalists, possibly like Russert, this morning on Meet The Depressed, are waking up. Russert asked sKerry hard questions and sKerry spun everything into negative. Geraldo really must have had an epiphany. It would be almost impossible to fake the honesty and emotions in his reporting.

Reply 33 - Posted by: vespasian, 1/30/2005 10:57:05 PM "Yesterday's high turnout, in defiance of the gunmen, should be celebrated. Of course the Iraqi insurgency is an important story. But this does not explain the loving attention devoted to each setback faced by the forces of order. Compare yesterday's reports with those by the same commentators during South Africa's first democratic election. Then, too, there were many technical problems: electors who were not properly registered, voter intimidation, long queues. But these things were set in their proper context, as the backdrop against which the moving drama of people casting their first ballots was being played out. No one suggested that the clashes between IFP and ANC supporters in Zululand undermined the whole process. No one argued that the backlash by a handful of black homeland chieftains and Boer irreconcilables made South Africa unfit for democracy" AMEN

Reply 34 - Posted by: mollybob, 1/30/2005 11:05:07 PM The idea of the purple ink is indeed a good one, but I'm afraid if we tried it here, we'd have a rash of nine-fingered voters showing up at various polling places claiming they'd lost their ID.

Reply 35 - Posted by: Margo-Weston, 1/30/2005 11:21:39 PM Just for fun, I switched the channels back and forth this morning to watch the reaction of the news readers and compare them with FOX. Even though I knew what to expect, I did not think that they would be so outspoken and down in the mouth about the vote. They feel they must tell us dummies that this is not finished, that there will be more deaths and that just because they voted does not change anything. Geeeeez. We don't want to be too happy about this, ya know. While on FOX, the comments were positive and praised the people of Iraq for ignoring the danger and voting. The liberals are not worth our even trying to figure them out but they are losing big time for the future elections and they don't know it because their anger is in the way..

Reply 36 - Posted by: DCJE, 1/30/2005 11:21:53 PM I wonder how the Spaniards feel about the courage and pride of the Iraqis who voted. I am honored to have been a witness to this. U.S. Troops: you are a credit to humanity.

Reply 37 - Posted by: god of irony, 1/30/2005 11:46:32 PM In reference to Geraldo: I don't know if he is full of crap or sincere but either way I don't care. He is putting the people on his show that are making the sacrifice and they are illustrating that what we are dong is right.

Reply 38 - Posted by: ivehadit, 1/31/2005 12:01:58 AM True story: last night George W. was in my dreams. He was smiling and was so happy. I awoke at 3:45, couldn't sleep because I was so excited about the election. Turned on the TV.. And lo and behold at 4am the election turnout was looking fantastic. I can't help thinking of the connection with George, my dream and Iraq.

Reply 39 - Posted by: grammadlr, 1/31/2005 12:49:47 AM Amen.

Reply 40 - Posted by: Pam Torson, 1/31/2005 1:21:12 AM Good point #36!

Reply 41 - Posted by: Pam Torson, 1/31/2005 1:26:15 AM Let us pray that is a prophetic dream from the Lord #38. Lord God, thank you for this wonder that has unfolded before our eyes. In Jesus' Name.

Reply 42 - Posted by: Jackie, 1/31/2005 1:27:25 AM I saw Geraldo last night when he saw the streets filling with people coming to vote..He was sincere. He was almost leaping in the air and crying. I gotta hand it to him..Geraldo is for America and he loves our military. I think he is winning me over..

Reply 43 - Posted by: starsandstripes, 1/31/2005 1:36:49 AM I can see Ted Kennedy slumped in his chair, a gloom cloud hovering over his booze-fattened head. This near traitor who wants to hand Iraq over to the terrorits is probably still hoping for the worst.

Reply 44 - Posted by: JHSMom02, 1/31/2005 1:47:12 AM They say God is in the details. Well, God was and is in the detail of human freedom, since He created it. God bless the brave people of Iraqi. And God bless and protect our brave men and women who are there giving the Iraqi people a chance to be truly free. Keep them all safe. Amen.

Reply 45 - Posted by: TheMotherCO, 1/31/2005 1:48:13 AM I wish I had watched Geraldo and God knows I never thought I would say that, but I was so angry at mara and juan on Fox News Sunday that I wanted to spit. juan was just slobbering all over himself to declare there were and would be more killings and blah, blah, blah, and mara, eyes bugging out of her head a foot nodding in agreement and trying to take over the mike. Fortunately, Brit was there and kristol who was positive for a change to stop them. I don't know why on earth Fox keeps the npr twosome or for that matter why they hired wallace. He is a helmet haired bore and looks like he is about to fall asleep in his chair. No revolution was ever made overnight and it is a sad state of education that people as old as juan, mara, idiot ted, etc. don't know any better. I am so proud of GW, I could just yodel or do something ridiculous from a Rocky Mtn. nearby. He is the best!!

Reply 46 - Posted by: bx, 1/31/2005 1:59:33 AM Everyone deserves freedom and democracy. Watching the democracy dance makes me laugh and cry. I'm so proud of my country. In joy and sorrow, we've sent a donation to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. This fund provides support to the families of American servicepeople who have paid the ultimate price providing the freedom and democracy to the Iraqi people that we Americans take for granted. http://www.fallenheroesfund.org/

Reply 47 - Posted by: Jackie, 1/31/2005 2:02:15 AM ROFL #45, you yodel from your mountain and I will dance a jig around my livingroom..

Reply 48 - Posted by: JHSMom02, 1/31/2005 2:28:42 AM FOX keeps the NPR dull duo for a very good reason. To be fair and balanced you say??? Nay nay nay..a thousand times nay. Fox keeps them so that we never forget what they stand for. It's like Rush says, we don't want to totally defeat the liberals. We want to keep a few around, especially on college campuses, so that we NEVER forget what and who they are. It's much like biting the inside of your lip. It's a sore spot, but if you're careful when you eat and don't keep biting it, it won't hurt. But the minute you forget about it, you bit it again.

Reply 49 - Posted by: maryclaudia, 1/31/2005 3:34:31 AM The miracle of prayer. I cannot wait for Rush on Monday.

Reply 50 - Posted by: Ida Lil, 1/31/2005 3:45:08 AM I did switch to MSNBC at about 4 this morning and found to my surprise two hosts very happy to express his and her joy at he turnout. One photo from a picture slide on that internet site MSNBC showed what the people braved to vote. Voters headed to the polls with their children and others were having to pass over and around blood running down the gutter from the suicide bombing a short time earlier. Their eyes were sad but they never turned back. I think a copy should be placed on Kenendy Kerry and Boxer's desks in full color in the morning.

Reply 51 - Posted by: Happy Katy, 1/31/2005 4:22:30 AM Tshe scenes were breathtakingly wonderful!! The town that thousands had to walk 13 miles from to vote, stand in line, and then walk back home the same 13 miles!! The voting place where a bomb went off, killing one, but NOBODY left the line --stayed there to get their purple finger and vote !! It was as good a day of watching the impossible as seeing Saddam's statue come down, with dancing in the sreets following both marvels !! The Dem's want a LIBERAL Democracy so try to demean Bush's victory, and Kerry says the UN and Europe must now come in to enforce their wishes!! Losers ----- stay home!!

Reply 52 - Posted by: ldroshine, 1/31/2005 7:03:58 AM After the shameful and humiliating klintoon years in the White House, it's so good to finally again be proud to be an American, and so proud and grateful to our beautiful, heroic and God-like President Bush. How proud his parents must be - I know I am.

Reply 53 - Posted by: knighterrant, 1/31/2005 7:17:59 AM I think that they are still waiting for the opportunity to "purple" their fingers in Vietnam.... Ted and J f'n K will continue to see that they wait a very long time.

Reply 54 - Posted by: jlrtd, 1/31/2005 8:01:14 AM Stumbled onto the MSM nightly news last night. First, Petah Jennings on location, looking as though he'd just broken up with Babs, practically choked as he reported the hugely (my word, not his) successful Iraqi elections. This guy will downplay the Second Coming if he reports it. Then to remarks by Lurch, who looked pretty good, having just returned from another intense round of botox treatments. He, of course, said the real hard work lies ahead, that the mere fact that 50%+ of the Iraqi electorate turned out to vote in the face of people who really do want to kill them, (unlike the mythical disenfranchisers of the black voters in Florida), was not significant; ordinary in fact. Finally, Brian Williams, as dour and blow-dried as Petah, read from the same leftie playbook in his short report. What a tribute to freedom! The mullahs and the boys in the House of Saud must be breaking out their secret stashes of Johnnie Walker Black to assuage their growing anxieties.

Reply 55 - Posted by: lt782, 1/31/2005 8:04:15 AM I had to switch to Chris Matthews last night to validate what I was thinking about the whining that would be going on. I was right. Gloom and doom.

Reply 56 - Posted by: fingerpicker, 1/31/2005 8:22:40 AM "Now President Bush has one last chance to get it right" (JFK, Meet the Press) Loser. Aside: does every Kerry sentence either begin or end with "as I have said at least a hundred times", or some such? Loser.

Reply 57 - Posted by: freedomlover, 1/31/2005 8:29:30 AM Like others, I channel-surfed to see what the old media was saying. The biggest disappointment was NBC's Brian Williams. He said something like "The general mood is (he pauses for dramatic effect and I thought he was going to say joy or pride) -- unease." Then he babbled on about the violence,the low turnout in Sunni areas, etc. He sure won't be a Brokaw.

Reply 58 - Posted by: LittleHoodedMonk, 1/31/2005 8:39:29 AM 'Iraq confounds the prophets of doom' These ''prophets'' were drowned in the ink of FREEDOM.

Reply 59 - Posted by: saryden, 1/31/2005 8:42:48 AM

Reply 60 - Posted by: chief, 1/31/2005 9:10:56 AM Absodarnlutely OUTSTANDING.Real proud of Iraq but even prouder to be an American from the political party that made this happen.

Reply 61 - Posted by: artlover, 1/31/2005 9:21:13 AM I think the democrats are praying for a failed Iraq. For that matter, I think they are praying for a failed America. They would sell their souls to keep George W. Bush from getting any credit. What a bunch of loosers!!!!!!!!

Reply 62 - Posted by: GRWeicheld, 1/31/2005 9:43:01 AM Russert was wrong to have Kerry on this day, it was only because they were in high hope for a failed policy, then Kerry would be out in front to gloat Cambodia should have been in question in Oct. Tim, not Jan. Too little too late.

Reply 63 - Posted by: holeshot, 1/31/2005 9:43:31 AM Just heard what Iran said about the elections. They said they were happy the elections took place, and now it's time for the Americans to withdraw their troops...Isn't that the same thing Kerry and Kennedy have been saying...Is Iran getting it's talking points from the DNC or vice-versa??

Reply 64 - Posted by: hoglah, 1/31/2005 9:50:02 AM Too bad that purple finger can't be applied in the appropriate places of the 3 Stooges - Boxer Dog, Teddy Boy and JFnK owner of 3 purple hearts.

Reply 65 - Posted by: cousair, 1/31/2005 9:56:50 AM President Teddy Roosevelt said: Speak softly and carry a big stick. President George Bush said: Speak firmly and USE your biggest stick.

Reply 66 - Posted by: Butch59, 1/31/2005 10:02:53 AM I caught a segment of Fox (don't remember which show) with Chris Hitcherson. He made a very true statement(rare for him) that our beloved President Bush and our mighty military have not forced democracy on the Iraqi people, but that they have released it. I beleive that this is what President Bush has been trying to tell the world from the beginning. All people yearn to live in freedom. Now the Iraqi people have taken the first step.

Reply 67 - Posted by: Chance, 1/31/2005 10:07:14 AM The haters of President Bush have proven that they hate America even more. They want us to fail at every turn. They must be filled with self hatred too. They truly Are on the side of the enemy. Praise God for President Bush.

Reply 68 - Posted by: The Phantom, 1/31/2005 10:11:42 AM Someone said that kerry was so incensed that he slapped therrrrezzzaaah upside the head. We are still waiting the word on his condition however, it seems like therrrrezza did not take kindly to his ourburst. To be continued. In the meantime, high fives for Iraq!

Reply 69 - Posted by: CadillaqJaq, 1/31/2005 10:15:02 AM Bully for the Telegraph! ''I hope the western press doesn't attempt to accomplish with their reporting what the insurgents couldn't accomplish today...'' Spoken yesterday by an Iraqi official. Too bad more media aren't following the Telegraph's lead. Two more points of interest: it took Germany four years following the end of WW II to vote for democracy; it took Japan seven. This war for freedom is about 22 months old, Go figure.