Iraqi woman (ain't she beautiful?) in Mosul proudly displays her proof-of-having-voted ink-stained finger, symbol of a new birth of freedom in the Middle East (FOXNews photo)
"Thousands of people are now walking a 13-mile stretch between Abu Ghraib and Gazaliyah to cast votes in the elections, military sources tell FOXNews," reports Captain Ed. We heard that one too -- in early-morning reruns -- from Shepard Smith, live on the scene in Iraq (will publish photos when they become available, although this story sounds almost too good to be true):
More as it develops. Fox also reports long lines in most polling stations, with some even calling for more ballot materials as they run out of ballots faster than they anticipated.
Those drone photos of the freedom marchers are the obverse of the satellite tracking of thugs who bombed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad yesterday. They're now in custody [via Deborah of My Little Corner of the World].
If you're rooting for freedom, the glass is more than half full. Meanwhile, Aljazeera, with the glass running on empty, is all gloom and doom, headlining that "Iraqi elections begin amid violence and bloodshed":
The Iraqi people started voting Sunday in their country's first election after ousting . . . Saddam Hussein, as anti-occupation and anti-government rebels, bent on wrecking Sunday's vote, stepped up their deadly bombing and mortar strikes at several polling stations across Iraq.
We guess it depends upon what your definition of "stepped up" is. Sure, there have been the usual suicide bombings and such, but even CNN is sounding optimistic, noting fewer than expected attacks in the first few hours of voting and presenting on-the-scene interviews from Iraqis giddy with the joy of casting their votes in this new era of budding freedom. Christiane Amanpour, no less, delivers good tidings:
"Despite the explosions and attacks, people have been turning out, and the trickle has become steadier since the polls began. The people have told us that they are thrilled, they are happy, that this is a new day. Many people even brought their children to watch this. On the whole, at least according to the UN, the turnout is better than expected."
Another CNN reporter says "Celebration has replaced fear." You know what? This is the best thing ever for freedom and human happiness since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Before that, it was 1776 and all that. Teddy and Barbara, call your offices.
Update: We read this headline to Tuck -- "Iraqi Voting Disrupts News Reports of Bombings" -- and he new at once it was ScrappleFace scoring yet one more hit for truth and freedom.
Update II: InstaLanche. Another reason to celebrate!
Your Berlin Wall analogy is a good one. The same people who were unhappy about the fall of the Wall are unhappy now. Sometimes unhappiness is good!
Posted by: Ernie G | January 30, 2005 at 12:02 PM
I hear John Kerry is beside himself. :)
Posted by: Sissy Willis | January 30, 2005 at 12:29 PM
I would try to take this seriously just to be polite, but in case you missed it, the, ah, anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz was kind of recently? Not that I'm saying you're so blinded by libertarian ideology that you can't see between the American Revolution and the end of the Soviet Union anything that ever happened good. What about Afghanistan? They were so fundamentalist there they were blowing up statues so as not to make "graven images." Getting rid of the Taliban, who were stoning homosexuals, lashing those caught with televisions! doesn't outweigh this by just a bit?
Feh. Sorry. Really truly trying to take this seriously.
Posted by: Tony the Pony | January 30, 2005 at 12:53 PM
Whoa, big fella. Haven't you ever heard of hyperbole? Exaggeration for effect, dontcha know (also a literary reference to the book 1066 and All That). At any rate, you will be relieved to know that I have blogged -- with feeling -- about both the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the obscene bombing of the giant Buddha statues.
Posted by: Sissy Willis | January 30, 2005 at 01:09 PM