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Message From Iraq(NY Times gets it right...for once)
The New York Times ^ | 1/31/2005 | editorial

Posted on 01/31/2005 7:51:34 AM PST by kellynla

Courageous Iraqis turned out to vote yesterday in numbers that may have exceeded even the most optimistic predictions. Participation varied by region, and the impressive national percentages should not obscure the fact that the country's large Sunni Arab minority remained broadly disenfranchised - due to alienation or terror or both. But even in some predominantly Sunni areas, turnout was higher than expected. And in an impressive range of mainly Shiite and Kurdish cities, a long silenced majority of ordinary Iraqis defied threats of deadly mayhem to cast votes for a new, and hopefully democratic, political order.

That is a message that all but the most nihilistic of the armed insurgents will have to accept. Many fierce political struggles lie ahead. Yet all who claim to be fighting in the name of the Iraqi people should now recognize that - in an open expression of popular will - Iraqis have expressed their clear preference that these battles be fought exclusively in the peaceful, constitutional arena.

This page has not hesitated to criticize the Bush administration over its policies in Iraq, and we continue to have grave doubts about the overall direction of American strategy there. Yet today, along with other Americans, whether supporters or critics of the war, we rejoice in a heartening advance by the Iraqi people. For now at least, the multiple political failures that marked the run-up to the voting stand eclipsed by a remarkably successful election day.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: election; iraq
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I had to read it twice to believe it! LOL
1 posted on 01/31/2005 7:51:34 AM PST by kellynla
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To: kellynla
They still managed to work in the "d" word. So much for the Sunni side of the street. kudos to Mark Steyn
2 posted on 01/31/2005 7:53:58 AM PST by NonValueAdded ("We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good" HRC 6/28/2004)
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To: kellynla

Me too, but did you notice they spent the rest of the article qualifying it.


3 posted on 01/31/2005 7:54:59 AM PST by snowman1
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To: snowman1
Well the NYT has a reeeeeel credibility problem that may take the rest of our lives and the rest of our children's lives to recover! LOL
4 posted on 01/31/2005 7:57:21 AM PST by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1st Battalion,5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi)
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To: kellynla

disenfranchised - they can't let go.


5 posted on 01/31/2005 7:57:29 AM PST by epluribus_2
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To: kellynla
we rejoice in a heartening advance by the Iraqi people

butbutbut isn't that ideological empirialism, to assume that our system is better than any other, and to assume that any steps towards "our ways" is "advancement"?

(No wonder liberals are always so confused, bitter, and angry)

6 posted on 01/31/2005 7:57:46 AM PST by Teacher317
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To: epluribus_2

'twas their choice.


7 posted on 01/31/2005 7:59:28 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: NonValueAdded; snowman1

Compared to what Kerry, Kennedy & Chrissy Matthews had to say yesterday about the election, the NYT and Lieberman have at least a small grasp on reality! LOL


8 posted on 01/31/2005 8:00:51 AM PST by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1st Battalion,5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi)
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To: kellynla

Look, even the NY Times can't deny reality even though they try. They still managed mulitple barbs in the article. I didn't think it was a very good article.


9 posted on 01/31/2005 8:00:55 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: kellynla

I read it that they want to seem at least a little credible, so they decided to supress themselves for telling yet another lie that wouldn't fly anyhow. They still had to get some bashing and whining in.


10 posted on 01/31/2005 8:04:44 AM PST by trebb ("I am the way... no one comes to the Father, but by me..." - Jesus in John 14:6 (RSV))
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To: 1Old Pro
it was certainly an improvement on what I expected! LOL
I expected a Kerry, Kennedy begrudgingly negative editorial...
11 posted on 01/31/2005 8:05:25 AM PST by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1st Battalion,5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi)
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To: kellynla
Any takers on the fact that the MSM covering this correctly has more to do with the Rather scandal and the all-seeing blogosphere than with any desire on their part to spread good news about Bush policies? Keep 'em under the microscope boys and girls. They are starting to squirm.
12 posted on 01/31/2005 8:10:29 AM PST by standupfortruth
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To: Teacher317

"isn't that ideological empirialism, to assume that our system is better than any other, and to assume that any steps towards "our ways" is "advancement"?"

If "our ways" means not getting beaten on the feet by a baseball bat for hours, (as Saddams sons liked to do to his subjects), but a vote out of tyranny, then "our ways" refer to the very definition of human need for fair government.


13 posted on 01/31/2005 8:11:21 AM PST by Beowulf9
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To: kellynla

I think it's just their bi-annual stab at "fair & balanced" reporting.


14 posted on 01/31/2005 8:11:49 AM PST by jdsteel (from the great Commonwealth of PA (sigh))
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To: NonValueAdded

Another excellent piece by Steyn yesterday!
Thank God for the Internet!


15 posted on 01/31/2005 8:16:15 AM PST by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1st Battalion,5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi)
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To: kellynla

The Elian Gonzalez betrayal was the perfect example of the difference between the Rat Party and we Republicans. Our outrage for sending an orphan boy whose mother literally gave her life for her son to breath freely was forced back to a brutal dictator by the Rats. The Dems threw everything at this boy including breaking the law and an American family’s door down at gunpoint to throw this helpless boy back to slavery. Conversely President George W Bush has risked everything while being called every name in the book to bring Freedom to 25 million enslaved human beings. One 10 year old boy sent back to Castro’s prison island vs 25 million saved from Saddamn’s torture is Democrat vs Republican.

The Dems say they are for Freedom from all dictators however their actions defy their words. Not one time in the past half billion freed slaves have they been on the right side of history. How difficult is it to wish Freedom for an enslaved people??? The truth is that they say they are for freedom, but they are only against dictators who are friends of America, while supporting every dictator that hates America. This is what happens to you when you believe any means justifies your ends.

America and especially the Military has made one of the greatest accomplishment in history. They have freed a people who was tortured and brutalized under a madman to be given their freedom with no expectations. These people would be shot for marking ballots the way they did. The soldiers who freed these people and gave their lives for this cause did it for the most noble of causes. They went in to protect our Country and World from the greatest terrorist dictator on the face of the planet and to free the people while attempting to establish Democracy. They met and exceeded all of their goals. These soldiers are heroes for all times and deserve our deepest respect and congratulations. Their families must be busting with pride.

Any political party in a democracy that cannot accept the joy and value of millions of people voting freely for the first time in their lives has lost it’s perspective. The joy and happiness on the Iraqis’ faces should be evident enough, but the Rats have to turn it into an attack on Bush’s policy. How difficult would it be for this Party to say they may have been wrong about the election and the freeing of 25 million people was a great thing for our Troops whom, they “support.” The very least they could have done was to acknowledge that the terrorists are evil and our Troops are the Freedom Fighters.

The truth is that the CommucRats do not want freedom for other countries or even this Great Country. Their ideal utopian model is fashioned after Communist China, Cuba and Russia even though they knew they were evil, the ends justified the means. Like China they see it as a great equalizer if everyone is dirt poor as long as the Inner Circle (them) is taken care of. If you take a look at the clinton Inner Circle you could see the formation of their form of gummit. They wanted to eliminate private healthcare while raising taxes to redistribute income and sending the middle class to poverty. Meanwhile, the Inner Circle that survived all became multi-millionaires.

This Party does not want Freedom for anyone. They opposed the bringing down of the Wall, the Vote in Nicaragua, the Protection of Elian, the Overthrow of Saddamn and have been completely exposed by the vote in Iraq. What people have they ever stood up for who are oppressed?? This is a Party that is an establishment devoid of any values or ideas other than the blind obsession of power.

George W Bush and we Republicans were right about the people of Iraq also yearning to breath freely. We are the Party of optimism and willing to take on challenges bigger than ourselves. While the Dems continue to wallow in the quagmire of failed ideologies and broken programs, we are working to make the Greatest Country in the World even better. If a Political Party does not want Freedom for the oppressed of the World it does not want Freedom for America?

While we ride with the Angels in the Whirlwind they are mired in the tar pits of Vietnam. Thanks to the Rats, Elian Gonzales is a slave again under the murderous dictator Castro while under GW fifty million former brutalized and raped slaves are voting their own futures and feeling the cool breeze of freedom. Perhaps one day we will see the statue of Saddamn replaced by Lady Liberty holding her Flame High for all the World to Dream.

Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighting Soldiers


16 posted on 01/31/2005 8:17:27 AM PST by bray (Iraq Freed Politically and Pray it will be Freed Spiritually)
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To: jdsteel

LOL

We'll have to look hard and long for another small dose of reality from them. Of course it could be just a setup,
we'll probably get the "Butt Monkey" tomorrow! LOL


17 posted on 01/31/2005 8:18:38 AM PST by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1st Battalion,5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi)
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To: kellynla
Now that I have picked myself up off the floor after reading the excerpt, let's relish the fact that the NY Times had to print a a piece not critical of the Iraqi Interim Govt. and President Bush. Even they are smart enough to see the historic vote and large numbers of voters as a HUGE win for Bush and the Iraqi People. Now they need to call their pals Teddy...(BURP)...Kennedy and horseface sKerry and tell them that democracy and voting are good things.
18 posted on 01/31/2005 8:20:18 AM PST by conservativecorner
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To: bray

gezzzz, did you just whip that off or did you have it on file? LOL
maybe W should retain you as a speechwriter ;-}


19 posted on 01/31/2005 8:20:58 AM PST by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1st Battalion,5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi)
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To: kellynla
Another excellent piece by Steyn yesterday!

Um...Care to share a link?

20 posted on 01/31/2005 8:21:55 AM PST by JennysCool (I was so naive as a kid I used to sneak behind the barn and do nothing. -Johnny Carson)
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