Senator Carl Levin ranking Senate Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee cautioned this morning about putting too much into this election. When I can find some quotes from the Wolf Blitzer interview with him I will post them. But needless to say his comments were pure poopoo.
But John Kerry's comments are "on the record". "No one in the United States should try to overhype this election," Kerry told NBC's "Meet the Press."
As NewsMax.com reports, Kerry went on to question the historic referendum's legitimacy, saying, "It's hard to say that something is legitimate when a whole portion of the country can't vote and doesn't vote."
Asked if he thought Iraq was now less of a terrorist threat, Kerry at first said, "No, it's more. And, in fact, I believe the world is less safe today than it was two and a half years ago."
But he changed his answer moments later, after "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert pressed him on the bizarre claim.
"I'm glad Saddam Hussein is gone, and I've said that a hundred times," he insisted.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Democrats Caution Against Celebrating Elections.
Palestinian/Israeli Conflict Sees Serious Attempts At Resolution
The Israeli government under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced today that it would turn over control of 4 West Bank towns to the Palestinian Authority. This is momentous and seems right in line with Israel's proposal to withdraw from parts of The Gaza Strip.
In balance to Israel's concessions, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has won concession from the terrorist groups of Hamas and Islamic Jihad that they will not make attacks on Israel for the time being. They are opting instead for the peaceful negotiations that both Sharon and Abbas have said will begin next week.
Peace is on the march all over the Middle East!!!!!!
Remember The Calls For Sunnis To Boycott The Elections?
The Associated Press provides a post-election quote from a spokesman for one of the groups that called for the boycott:
"The association's call for a boycott of the election was not a fatwa (religious edict), but only a statement," said Association of Muslim Scholars spokesman Omar Ragheb. "It was never a question of something religiously prohibited or permitted."
I havn't seen a flip-flop like that since John Kerry ran for President!
Iraqi Bloggers Chime In
Thanks again to PowerLineBlog for not suing me everytime I lift content from their site!
Mohammed and Omar from the blog Iraq The Model write down their thoughts on the historic elections that took place today.
Begin excerpt:
We had all kinds of feelings in our minds while we were on our way to the ballot box except one feeling that never came to us, that was fear. We could smell pride in the atmosphere this morning; everyone we saw was holding up his blue tipped finger with broad smiles on the faces while walking out of the center.
I couldn't think of a scene more beautiful than that.
From the early hours of the morning, People filled the street to the voting center in my neighborhood; youths, elders, women and men. Women's turn out was higher by the way. And by 11 am the boxes where I live were almost full!
Anyone watching that scene cannot but have tears of happiness, hope, pride and triumph.
The sounds of explosions and gunfire were clearly heard, some were far away but some were close enough to make the windows of the center shake but no one seemed to care about them as if the people weren't hearing these sounds at all.
How can I describe it!? Take my eyes and look through them my friends, you have supported the day of Iraq's freedom and today, Iraqis have proven that they're not going to disappoint their country or their friends.
Is there a bigger victory than this? I believe not.
I walked forward to my station, cast my vote and then headed to the box, where I wanted to stand as long as I could, then I moved to mark my finger with ink, I dipped it deep as if I was poking the eyes of all the world's tyrants. I put the paper in the box and with it, there were tears that I couldn't hold; I was trembling with joy and I felt like I wanted to hug the box but the supervisor smiled at me and said "brother, would you please move ahead, the people are waiting for their turn".
Yes brothers, proceed and fill the box!
These are stories that will be written on the brightest pages of history.
It was hard for us to leave the center but we were happy because we were sure that we will stand here in front of the box again and again and again.
Today, there's no voice louder than that of freedom.
US Press Stunned By Successful Iraq Elections
According to 2 articles by NewsMax.com, the excellent turn-out in the Iraqi elections has some journalists stunned while others seem incredulous.
72% Turnout Estimated In Iraq Elections
Today is another day in the history of Middle East Freedom. Despite attacks against polling places, Iraqis came out to vote in great numbers. While the minority Sunni areas of the country saw less than 50% turn-out, some Southern Provices saw up to 90% turn-out.
As of this post, less than 40 people died in terrorist attacks in Iraq while the polls were open.
