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Iraqi Voters Defy Violence
Wall Street Journal ^ | March 7, 2010 | Charles Levinson

Posted on 03/07/2010 5:52:01 PM PST by Yardstick

BAGHDAD—Despite a spasm of violence early Sunday, Iraqis flocked to the polls in what appeared to be large numbers, in a hard fought and too-close-to-call parliamentary election representing a pivotal test of the country's fledgling democracy.

A series of morning attacks cast an early pall over the day, as insurgents made good on threats to disrupt polling. At least 31 Iraqis died in dozens of mostly small attacks around the country as the voting began. The violence subsided by late morning without the sort of high-profile attacks that have shook the capital in recent months, killing in some cases more than 100 Iraqis in a day.

Polls closed at 5 p.m., and the day's relatively low level of violence was widely seen as a victory for Iraqi security services. Though no official turnout numbers will be available until Monday, anecdotal reports from polling stations around the country suggested turnout was strong. In some areas, local election officials reported unofficially turnout had been more than 70%.

"The Iraqi people have seen much worse than this," said Ibtihal Khaled, a 51-year-old housewife waiting to vote in Baghdad's predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Utaifiya. "A few bombs won't keep them away from the polls."

MUCH MORE at the link...

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News
KEYWORDS: 2010; bushlegacy; election; iraq; iraqielection; postwariraq; victory
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Overall a very good day for Iraq.
1 posted on 03/07/2010 5:52:02 PM PST by Yardstick
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To: Yardstick

I think we all have to give a pat on the back and congratulations to Obama and his Administration for all their success in Iraq.

/s


2 posted on 03/07/2010 5:56:36 PM PST by rlmorel (We are traveling "The Road to Serfdom".)
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To: rlmorel

>> congratulations to Obama

Indeed the best. They were committed from the beginning and provided unwavering support throughout. Real stand up guys.


3 posted on 03/07/2010 5:59:24 PM PST by Gene Eric (Your Hope has been redistributed. Here's your Change.)
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To: Yardstick

This is Bush’s and the Military’s victory with no thanks to Obama, Reid and Pelosi.


4 posted on 03/07/2010 6:07:55 PM PST by AU72
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To: AU72

Was it just me, or did Obozo sound just blah and very unthrilled when he was announcing about the sucess of the iraqi elections.??

What a P...k!


5 posted on 03/07/2010 6:10:39 PM PST by Recovering Ex-hippie (Ok, joke's over....Bring back Bush !)
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To: Yardstick
MUCH MORE at the link...

If you have a subscription.

6 posted on 03/07/2010 6:16:29 PM PST by TChad
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To: Recovering Ex-hippie

Bama is always blah when it’s not about him....


7 posted on 03/07/2010 6:32:00 PM PST by hstacey (An ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure...)
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To: TChad

Wow, 20 minutes ago they had the entire article up. But they’ve since changed it to subscription only.

Sorry for the tease, folks!


8 posted on 03/07/2010 6:34:04 PM PST by Yardstick
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To: TChad; All

No idea why, but if you use a Google search to get to the article, the whole thing will come up:

http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=f&um=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=iraqi+voters+defy+violence

The WSJ piece is the best one out there. It’s worth the trouble.

AP seems to have lost interest after about 11am when the early violence in Baquoba sputtered out and Iraqis started heading to the polls in a wave.


9 posted on 03/07/2010 6:53:51 PM PST by Yardstick
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To: rlmorel
I think we all have to give a pat on the back and congratulations to Obama and his Administration for all their success in Iraq.

/s

In this new, PC world, how do we give an "atta boy" to Barky?

10 posted on 03/07/2010 7:00:32 PM PST by CDB
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To: Yardstick
if you use a Google search to get to the article, the whole thing will come up

Found it, thanks.

Funny, just a few years ago the Democrats were telling us that Iraq was not ready for democracy, it was simply not compatible with Iraqi culture. Besides, wasn't it the height of American arrogance to assume that we could succeed in forcing our political system on another country? Talk about cowboy diplomacy!

Wrong again.

11 posted on 03/07/2010 7:26:44 PM PST by TChad
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To: TChad

I know it. They were dead wrong. Liberals have a knack for being on the wrong side of history.

I read a great article the other day where a guy had returned to Iraq after having been there back in 2007. He said the difference was incredible. He said all the Iraqis want to do nowadays is talk politics.


12 posted on 03/07/2010 7:42:38 PM PST by Yardstick
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To: Yardstick

These “elections “ were a joke. 460 Sunnis were stricken from running on the ballot after they were nominated. This is an over run by Maqtada Al Sadr and the Shiites . This is a Total farce. It reminds me of that facade of election in Afghanistan where Karzi took your money and bought off his run off opponent so he withdrew and went to the French coast for life!! This smells and Im tired of paying for it with my money (big time) and the blood of our sons!! Get the hell out!!! This is not worth dieing or paying for.


13 posted on 03/07/2010 7:52:37 PM PST by rogertarp
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To: rogertarp
These “elections “ were a joke. 460 Sunnis were stricken from running on the ballot after they were nominated.

Out of 6,200 candidates?

14 posted on 03/07/2010 7:57:47 PM PST by Trailerpark Badass (One good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain.)
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To: rogertarp

Is that you, Ron Paul?


15 posted on 03/07/2010 7:58:49 PM PST by Yardstick
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To: Trailerpark Badass

What a joke.


16 posted on 03/07/2010 8:08:29 PM PST by rogertarp
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To: rogertarp
What a joke.

Yeah, you are.

17 posted on 03/07/2010 8:19:49 PM PST by Trailerpark Badass (One good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain.)
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To: Yardstick

All week, Fox has been showing some of the Iraqi campaign ads and politicking. The Iraqis have* caught right on - posters, billboards, TV ads, rallys, etc. And they’ve even had some charges of bribery and pay-for-votes - just like the dems!!


18 posted on 03/07/2010 9:28:27 PM PST by hsalaw
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To: Yardstick

I drove past the polling place here in the Chicago northern suburbs for any Iraqis in country to vote here!


19 posted on 03/07/2010 11:47:04 PM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: Yardstick
The Iraqis impress me by going out to the polls under such violence. I remember that first election in January '05. We heard explosions all day long and yet, the people kept going to the polls and standing in lines to vote.

They voted again today while lots of bombs were going off.

It serves as a reminder that we must never take our opportunities to vote for granted.

20 posted on 03/07/2010 11:52:48 PM PST by Allegra (It doesn't matter what this tagline says...the liberals are going to call it "racist.")
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