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| Iraq |
| Iraq paints the country purple |
| 2005-10-14 |
| Non-idiotarian Op-ed from a thai paper. As controversial as the Iraq war has become around the world, it is easy to lose sight of the extraordinarily good news that has emerged from that country and battleground. The first was the downfall of one of the world's most heinous dictatorships. Saddam Hussein killed his people, bullied his small neighbours and threatened his large ones. The other is the widespread and enthusiastic way in which Iraqis have grasped democratic choice. This weekend, they will once again go to the polls to make the decisions that will decide their country's fate. When Iraqis vote _ or abstain _ tomorrow on a constitution hammered out in a remarkably short time, they will be doing something none of their Arab neighbours do. Several major Sunni organisations still were debating this week whether to vote or boycott. By contrast, about 5,000 members of major Islamist student groups in Egypt held protests to demand a free vote, on anything. The arguments and debates over the proposed Iraq constitution during the past several weeks have been passionate, opinionated and peaceful. By contrast, an increasingly desperate alliance of Saddam loyalists and foreign terrorists have attempted to stop or discredit the referendum on the constitution. An apparently authentic letter from the No.2 leader of world terrorism, al-Qaeda deputy Ayman al-Zawahri, has defined the stakes for the Arab extremists in Iraq. It is remarkably close to the view of the Iraqi government and US President George W Bush. Al-Qaeda seeks a Middle East political base from which to expand into other neighbouring countries, expel all western influences and eventually to establish a new Muslim caliphate. Between al-Qaeda and this goal stand the voters of Iraq. The voters' decision to accept or reject the constitution draft is important to the country. But turnout at the polls tomorrow is likely to be crucial. If, as now seems likely, there is a large representation in Kurdish, Shi'ite and Sunni communities, it will be a major setback for the violent gangs intent on overthrowing the Iraqi government elected last January. Many Sunnis opposed early drafts of the constitution, but talks among the major groups never have stopped. Just this week, a new clause on amendments was stuck into the draft with everyone's agreement, and a major Sunni group called on its members to go to the polls and go to the inkwell _ coat their fingers with the purple indelible ink that is proof of having voted. What Iraq puts in its constitution is largely up to the Iraqis. There are basic clauses on human rights, particularly for women. Prisoners awaiting trial will be eligible to vote, even suspected terrorists, and word has it that even Saddam Hussein might be asked if he wishes to vote. There are great fears of Iraq civil war, but then those fears have been loudly forecast since the 2003 invasion. Here, however, is the good part: If Iraq of the future devolves into civil conflict, tomorrow's election makes it more likely that the battles will be on the political stumps, and not in the streets. In any case, the citizens of every country have the right to set the course of their nation, vote for their leaders and demand daily accountability from the representatives elected. A vote for the new constitution, a vote against it or a reasoned, thinking decision not to vote _ all of these move forward both democracy and freedom in Iraq.It is remarkable that a country so violently torn by daily bombs and battles can debate, write and then vote on a national constitution. Last May, a nationwide poll in Iraq determined that 59% of Iraqis believed the country was better off than before the US invasion, and 76% said they and their families were personally better off. There had been predictions that the US invasion would galvanise Muslims against the rest of the world, but the Pew Global Attitudes Project reported last July that Muslim public opinion was increasingly against the Islamists. Security will be tight in Iraq, and presumably violence will continue, as it did during the parliamentary elections last January. Everyone should wish the Iraqis well in their decision to take another brave step towards democracy. |
| Posted by:anonymous5089 |