As predicted by many and vigorously denied by some, the elections seem to have produced a change (Washington Post; requires simple registration) in attitudes among Iraqis.
“I feel very optimistic that things will change for the better because of the strong turnout in the elections. That reinforced our faith and gave us a sense of change for the better,” said Ali Jassem, 32, the manager of a bakery in Baghdad.
“It was a turning point,” Capt. Muthana Latif said. “People saw that there weren’t any Americans or foreigners there. Only policemen. The suicide bomber was just after Iraqis.”
The faster that Iraqis take more of the burden of defeating the insurgents, the sooner coalition troops will leave.
There were some good cartoons on the Iraqi election:
http://cagle.slate.msn.com/politicalcartoons/pccartoons/archives/dickwright.asp?Action=GetImage
(If the link doesn’t work, choose ‘Dick Wright’ and then image from 1/31)
http://cagle.slate.msn.com/politicalcartoons/pccartoons/archives/bennett.asp?Action=GetImage
(or choose ‘Clay Bennett,’ 1/31)
The question is, regardless of when a viable exit strategy is developed, whether or not the US will remain an active force in Iraqi politics and government, namely to enforce our will in the region. The fact is, given Iran as an example, that the US has more often than not favored whatever regime is condusive to its wants, regardless of that regime’s commitment to liberty.