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Opinion

Too soon to call Iraqi election a success

Matt Bean
Opinion Columnist

The Iraqi people took part in the first free election in more than a half-century this weekend, and the Bush administration is using this as an example of the benefits of democracy and justification for going to war. 

I am not going to rip into the administration for showing undue bravado -- between this and his successful re-election bid, President George W. Bush has earned the right to do a little strutting.

But, much like an end-zone celebration after a touchdown, Bush has to hurry back into the game before he's penalized.

At present, heralding the election as a victory for democracy and the Iraqi people would smack of a certain situation involving an aircraft carrier and a huge "Mission Accomplished" banner.

For one, blood has been shed. Reports vary, but many people have been wounded, and around 40 have been killed by suicide bombers despite the tight security.

Of course, considering that this is the first time in over five decades that most of these people have had a voice, and considering that approximately eight million showed up to vote, around 100 dead or wounded isn't a terrible figure.

Do not forget the 150,000 American troops who remain in Iraq and the more than 1,400 who gave their lives for this battle.

It's extremely difficult to trivialize human life especially to those directly affected, but freedom for a nation's people is certainly one of the noblest reasons to make that sacrifice.

The trick, then, is making sure the Iraqis really are free when this election is over. It's hard to be sold on freedom when another nation's troops are constantly patrolling the streets outside your house.

When our soldiers come home, they need to leave Iraq in good hands -- stable hands. They need to be safe.

Unfortunately, there are still a number of red flags being raised. One is obviously the attacks on the elections. Those pesky insurgents who continue to evade capture are another thorn.

The biggest warning sign that all isn't well is the lack of voting in the Sunni Triangle; in the country's primarily Sunni areas, polls were either deserted or not opened at all, according to Associated Press reports.

If the Sunni Muslims, while in the minority, were to disregard the results of the election, things could get ugly.

We won't know how ugly it will get until the counting (and recounting, surely) is complete and the results are announced. Will there be celebration across Iraq? Will the Sunnis who boycotted the election acknowledge the results, and if not, will they rebel?

Maybe things will work out for the best in Iraq, but I'm going to be on the side of history. As I see it, Bush's battle is still uphill, and now is not the time for pats on the back.

Bean, an opinion columnist for The Daily Cougar, 
can be reached at me@mattbean.com