Thinking About the Iraqi Vote

Later this week, the Iraqi people will once again take to the polls to determine their own fate. As usual, the naysayers on the left and the Bush haters all over the place are working to lower expectations about the vote. But here's the thing, no one on the left can legitimately claim that a democratic election is better than brutal dictatorship. The Iraqi on Thursday is the culmination of massive change in that country.

To be honest, three years ago, I didn't think a democracy would work in Iraq. This is a people who in their entire civilization had never experienced any sembelence of real democracy. Sure, tribes had their leaders who tended to be very responsive, but largely, the civilization had been one of kings and dictators. But the seeds of democracy have taken root and the success of this election will be measured in the peaceful transfer of power from one elected government to another. Granted, the Iraqi democracy is extremely fragile, but it is a democracy.

Like many people, I am sure, I harbor doubts about the theocratic nature of the Iraqi constitution. But we as a nation have a nearly 240 year tradition of the separation of the church from the civil functioning of our nation. Iraq has no similar tradition. The Islamic faith, whether Shiite or Sunni, dominates their life and culture. Despite the fanaticism of some, the Iraqi's are a religious people and they place great faith and comfort in that religion.

This is not to say that this is a wise decision to have your religion serve as the basis for your legal code, but then again, all legal codes are a matter of morality. When you boil down the American legal code, you will arrive at a set of morals, morals decided by and embraced by an entire culture. We do not condone theft, rape or murder. We do not permit abuse of children. In fact, much our our legal underpinnings come from spiritual, even religious concepts. What makes the Iraqi decision to have a similar moral foundation so wrong? Is it because we don't like their religious underpinnings? Is it because we have a bias against the Islamic faith which has bred a fanaticism that threatens the globe?

While some on the American left may have their doubts about the policy of permitting the Iraqis to build a theocratic democracy, had the Americans and the west told Iraqi leaders, "no, you can't base your laws on Islam," we would have be guilty of the greatest of hypocrisies--that we want to give the Iraqis the freedom of self-determination, but not too much freedom.

I personally cannot wait for the Iraqi elections--there is no downside for the Iraqi people. They have the freedom to chose for themselves. Will there be violence in their future? Yes, but even the Sunnis are beginning to see the efficacy of participating in the process, not trying to destroy it.

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad says he believes that although Iraq is currently polarized along sectarian lines, he expects Sunnis to participate in the parliamentary elections in large numbers.

snip

Shia Muslims make up more than 60 percent of Iraq's population. Ambassador Khalilzad said he hopes Sunni participation in the Iraqi political process means that internal Sunni-Shia differences can be resolved peacefully.

"And, the fact that the Sunnis are participating indicates confidence, perhaps growing confidence, that the problems they have with each other, with the Shias, can be dealt with politically," he added. "And that is what we are hoping for. That is what we are counting on. And that will be very important if it happens."

Yes, December 15th is an important day, and I look forward to it.