The Iraq Election

The courageous turnout in support of democracy is a moral triumph for American policy, and also for George W. Bush’s steadfastness in the face of widespread scepticism (my own included). The bravery of those determined to vote is downright inspiring.

Perhaps it might be appropriate to adapt and borrow Milton’s noble words about truth in theAreopagitica. He defended freedom of speech on the ground that “though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously to misdoubt her strength. Let her and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter?”

From the evidence of this election, despite a hurricane of insurgent violence and hate, “so Democracy be in the field, we do injuriously to misdoubt her strength.” Numerous interviews with voters record their gratitude for electoral procedures never seen in Iraq before. There are plenty of legitimate doubts about the years ahead (see Robert Kagan and the situation in Iraq, below). But that a clear majority of Iraqis dearly prize an opportunity to choose their own government, and are prepared to show it in a dramatic and moving way, has been placed beyond question by this momentous event.

January 2005