What if they held an election, and no one died?
Turnout appeared high in Anbar province, an overwhelmingly Sunni area that largely boycotted the 2005 elections because of threats by Sunni insurgents and opposition to the U.S.-led invasion. Sunnis’ participation now is considered critical to restoring balance to regional politics, perhaps undercutting a reason for violence.
“I just voted and I’m very happy,” Mukhalad Waleed, 35, said in the city of Ramadi in Anbar province. “We could not do the same thing the last time because of the insurgency. “
So not only was turnout high in the Anbar Region (due to Sunni's not participating, and because of fear of the insurgents), but al Sadr is also playing by the rules:
One of the most powerful Shiite blocs at the national level, the Sadrist movement led by Moktada al-Sadr is not contesting these provincial polls. It is backing two parties.
Who could have envisioned this transition to safe and free elections in a Middle Eastern Country? Who would have thought, that if given the choice, Iraqis would prefer Democracy?
George Bush, that's who.
