AMERICA AT WAR
At Salem the Soldier's Homepage ~
bttt
The Headline of [Monday] morning's Portland Oregonian reads, "We Broke a Barrier of Fear!" Sally Buzbee banners her lead story with that quote from one election official, Mijm Towirish, recognizing the spirit and bravery of his people and their overwhelming desire for liberty. Yet even as the paper tries to link itself to this historic event, and before she even gets to the quote, Buzbee cannot resist casting the paper's typical shadow of doubt on the entire endeavor.
"But some polling stations in the minority Sunni heartland appeared largely deserted or didn't open at all. A low Sunni turnout could undermine the credibility of the new leadership to emerge from the vote." She goes on after to report, "... But for the country's minority Sunni Arabs, who held a privileged position under Saddam Hussein, the day was not as welcome. No more than 400 people voted in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit. In the heavily Sunni northern Baghdad neighborhood of Azamiyah, where Saddam made his last known public appearance in early April 2003, the four polling places never opened.
In other words, despite the voice of freedom emanating from the Middle East, 'Theres' hope yet,' seems to be the thinking of Buzbee and her colleagues. Make no mistake. The free people of Iraq 'broke a barrier' yesterday. They transcended the fear of condescension and ridicule by voting abroad. And they penetrated the fear of murder by voting at home in Iraq. That barrier of fear was created by thugs and butchers opposed to liberty, sadly aided in no small part by publications like the Oregonian. So, before you folks over in the press room go patting yourselves on the back, take a good long look at Iraqis' inky fickle finger of perseverance. (HT. Instapundit) Its being flipped at you.