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January 30, 2005
Life-or-death choice on 1st Election Day
Topics: Iraq ElectionsThe Boston Herald isn't afraid to print how the majority of Iraqis really feel about the elections - excited and proud.
Iraqis are
casting their first free ballots today in an election that could become
a violent precursor to civil war or might - despite the worst
insurgents can do - make Iraq the beacon of freedom President Bush [related, bio] has vowed it will be.
People are excited about it.. . . This is a first step for the Iraqi people toward democracy,'' said Zainab al-Suwaij of the Boston-based American Islamic Congress, who recently returned from Baghdad. She said the election could undercut the insurgency by giving Iraqis a say in their future.
This isn't just an election for a government,'' said Jonathan Morrow of the U.S. Institute of Peace, an adviser to Iraqi candidates. It's an election for a body that will draft a constitution. That's a lot more important.''
Because Iraqi Sunnis - the once-dominant minority now heavily involved in the insurgency - are not expected to vote in large numbers, Morrow said he is encouraged by promises from majority Shia leaders that they will bring Sunnis into the new government and constitution-drafting process.
Posted by Hyscience at January 30, 2005 12:54 AM
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