A lot to like, miles to go before they sleep

There was a lot to like about today's election in Iraq. The images of legions of Iraqis lining up to vote in the face of sucide bombers was certainly inspiring. That is the call of freedom and self determination, no doubt about it.

It would be a good idea to but the bubbly on hold, however. Let's do ourselves and America a favor, shall we? Let's not have an orgy of self-congratulation. Let's not have a "Mission Accomplished" moment. Let's have a moment of clarity.

First of all, let's give credit where credit is due. Grand Ayatollah Sistani deserves enormous praise for mobilizing popular support in favor of elections. He did so in defiance of the Bush Adminsistration orginal plans to plant Achmed Chalabai as puppet in chief. Later, Sistani sent thousands of protesters to the streets last year after Bush canceled the impromptu elections that were springing up. Both Juan Coleand Swopa over at Needlenose have excellent posts on this topic.

As usual, Bush was dragged kicking and screaming into doing the right thing (think 9.11 commission) and now will make political hay over the outcome.

The other fact that should not be drowned out in an excess of boosterism, is that while overall turnout was impressive, it was primarily Shiites and Kurds. The Sunnis appeared in much lesser numbers. It is to be hoped that they will reappear in peace as the newly elected government shapes itself. But the insurgency is rooted with the Sunnis. It is far too early to tell whether or not the election inflamed tensions or eased them. We do not know if this was the first step towards civil war or the first step towards a peacful, free and democratic Iraq. Let us hope for the latter.

All in all, I think it's a day to praise the Iraqi people, who despite being pounded to death by the hammer of the occupation and the anvil of the insurgency, bravely stood up and were counted.

Christopher Albritton's summary on Back to Iraq seems apropos:

Which is why, several of us journalists here are going to call this elections for the Iraqis. My friend Mitch and I were discussing this and regardless of who wins in the polls, the Iraqis won here and proved themselves—for a day, at least—stronger than the insurgency. And that's a very big symbolic victory. A huge one, in fact, and Iraqis should take great pride in themselves. When they had the opportunity, they stood up and were counted. The real losers were the Sunnis who didn't participate. They missed a golden opportunity to take part in a process that, while flawed, were the only game in town. I don't know what's going to happen next, and a civil war may still erupt, but if it does, the elected government—one elected by Shi'a and Kurds, for the most part—will have the moral high ground in it.