The Iraqis Vote

This morning, citizens all over Iraq went to the polls to vote in their nation's first free election. Despite dire predictions from the Western press and threats of violence from insurgents, news sources reported that over 70% of the electorate turned out to vote.


(AP)

Iraqi soldiers voted early in the morning so that they could provide security to polling places when the voters arrived. Over 100,000 Iraqi soldiers and policemen were in the streets today protecting their fellow citizens. There were some outbreaks of violence, but the voting was virtually interrupted throughout the day. Instead of cowering in fear as many talking heads predicted they would, Iraqis danced in the streets outside polling places and proudly displayed their ink-stained index fingers which signified that they had voted. Polls closed at 5 p.m. Iraqi time, but it may take a little over a week until all the worldwide votes are tallied


(AP)