Iraqis Watch U.S. Elections with Admiration
Middle Easterners are amazed by Americans' ability to vote for the "other."
As an Iraqi I worry about the future of Iraq’s security and democracy. This simple fact has made me hope for an American leader who will perpetuate the strategy of supporting Iraq for the good of the two nations and for the world, in the war on terror.
In spite of my Republican leanings, I view the result of the presidential election as a victory for the values of the American nation.
I certainly have great trust in Republican leaders who liberated my people from tyranny. I trust the American nation as a whole even more. America has offered the world — through her pluralism and temporary divide — yet a new lesson in humanity.
From my perspective, the result of the election was not a defeat for America but a victory. Americans have demonstrated that country matters more than party.
Americans, especially those who are used to voting for Republicans, have demonstrated their patriotism and their adherence to what America stands for. People in the Middle East are amazed by the large number of white people and Republican voters who voted for the “other.” America — who is always accused of racism — has shown us that in fact our countries in the Middle East are where racism flourishes. We didn’t choose that, but it’s the rule of tyranny and repression that uses hatred and intolerance to further itself.
It is liberty and democracy that allowed America to become the great humane and mature nation that she is.
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Mohammed Fadhil is PJM Baghdad editor. His own blog is Iraq the Model.
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50 Comments
1. Iraqis Watch US Elections With Admiration:[...] Iraqis Watch US Elections With Admiration America’s commitment to freedom and the peaceful transfer of power serves as a powerful example in the Middle East. [...]
Nov 11, 2008 - 12:37 am 2. David Thomson:“Americans, especially those who are used to voting for Republicans, have demonstrated their patriotism and their adherence to what America stands for.”
And that is why there must be an immediate investigation into the credit card fraud committed by the Barack Obama campaign. We know for sure that top officals, perhaps even the candidate himself, ordered the the disabling of the software security functions to allow illegal financial contributions over the Internet. The very integrity of our elections demands that the guilty ones be arrested and jailed. Do you really wish to be patriotic? If so, there is simply no justification for your silence and apparent indifference. Lastly, have we forgotten ACORN? Another formal investigation must be initiated to investigate the behavior of this vile organization’s behavior.
Nov 11, 2008 - 12:39 am 3. RE:I have to agree with Mr Thomson.
ACORN, media dishonesty, indifference to character (Wright, Rezko, Ayers Davis, Soros, Farrakhan, Raines, Gorelick, Frank, etc) the entitlement mentality, fund raising fraud, the government bailout mentality, selective enforcement of existing law (immigration, election, etc), the list goes on.
Both the Democrats and the GOP are to blame. We are into a new age of retrogression with a generation of spoiled narcissistic brats at the helm – an entire generation that is extremely ill equipped to handle adversity.
This election is little more than another mile marker on the road to dystopia and we are picking up speed.
Nov 11, 2008 - 2:59 am 4. Sissy Willis:How refreshing. Thank you for a most inspiring appreciation of the Shining City Upon a Hill.
Nov 11, 2008 - 4:14 am 5. RE:Sorry to rain on your parade Sissy, but somebody has to be a grown-up about what is really going on.
Unwarranted self-congratulation is a rather narcissistic indulgence. No good comes of it.
Nov 11, 2008 - 4:48 am 6. Jim V.L.:To RE: Sissy’s parade is one I willingly join. Yes, we have a President-elect that shows signs of far left leanings, and yes there is the need to “follow the money trail” of fraud that was rampant in this election, but guess what …. in two years the American people can and will make corrections necessary to keep us as that shining city on a hill. No one man or party can for long side-track what Ronald Reagan described as the greatest nation on the earth. However, if we keep up with the negative narrative of “dystopia” we will have no one to blame for a poor out-come than ourselves. Be vigilant, be aggressive in support of those leaders who show themselves to be truly conservative and free market thinkers, and most of all be positive! As William James so eloquently stated in As A Man Thinketh: “…Mind, the Master Power that molds and makes, and we are Mind, and evermore we take the tools of thought shaping what we will, we bring forth a thousand joys or a thousand ills. We think in secret, ahhh, but it comes to pass, our environment is our looking glass”.
Nov 11, 2008 - 7:06 am 7. Iraqis Watch U.S. Elections with Admiration:[...] Iraqis Watch U.S. Elections with Admiration Middle Easterners are amazed by Americans’ ability to vote for the “other.” [...]
Nov 11, 2008 - 7:10 am 8. flying squirrel:Thank you Mohammed; for this comment and for all the news and views you and Omar have shared. Despite the obvious partisanship in the comments, I know Americans are truly proud of our peaceful means of renewing our government. And we are proud of America being a place where anyone deserving can be president. This time Americans may have voted more for the idea of Barack Obama, (that he is not other, but one of us) than for the candidate’s actual platform or his idea of America. I don’t know how Obama will govern or how successful he will be. I am sure, however, in four years we all get to vote for or against him again–and we will base that vote on how these next four years go. Not a perfect system, but one both democrats and republicans would recommend, in private, to their friends. My hopes go with you and the new democracy of Iraq.
Nov 11, 2008 - 7:17 am 9. Spacemonkey:Thank you Mr. Fadhil.
I am proud to join in Sissy’s parade as well. Recognizing and acknowledging my nation is great, not through my effort but from those who went before, motivates me to do my part, small as it is, to ensure it stays great.
Nov 11, 2008 - 7:22 am 10. love america:We stand tall because we stand on the shoulders of giants. They are flawed giants but no more or less flawed than ourselves.
A perfect example of why America is the greatest country in the world.
Nov 11, 2008 - 7:37 am 11. BMoon:Thanks for the good words, Mr Fadhil, words from afar, words desperately needed in our own despondent times. I loathe Obama and all he stands for. Yet he is my President now, and his success is mine and my counry’s success.
And we fervently pray, hope, and long for the sucess of human rights, peace, and prosperity of Iraq and all its people. Blessings to you sir.
Nov 11, 2008 - 8:20 am 12. Wahine:We will soon see how great America is. Whether we’re a nation that loves her Constitution and follows the law or chooses to submit to blind folly and certain death.
Our self-congratulatory hour may be short-lived.
Nov 11, 2008 - 8:32 am 13. The Historian:OBAMA STARTS LIKE A ROOKIE
Team Obama has a long way to go in just over 70 days. Time to fasten our seat belts as noted here:
http://greensrealworld.blogspot.com/2008/11/obama-starts-like-rookie.html
Nov 11, 2008 - 8:44 am 14. David Thomson:“Whether we’re a nation that loves her Constitution”
Barack Obama despises the U.S. Constitution as written by our founding fathers. He instead opts for a postmodernist approach to this most important national document. In other words, Obama will make it up as he goes along.
Nov 11, 2008 - 8:46 am 15. Hameed Abid:Dear Mohammed
This is an excellent post.
Your reasonings are great.
Very well written.
We thank Bush/ Blair and their people for our freedom and democracy, and this election has shown Iraqis how democracy works in practical terms.
Let us hope Iraq’s future is not jeopardised by narrow political agenda that looks for effect and not substance.
The American people have chosen their president for the next four years and good luck to them.
Please do not leave Iraq before it is well enough to run itself.
Help us to keep the vultures out, please.
Kind regards
Nov 11, 2008 - 10:00 am 16. Robohobo:Hameed-
I hope that 0bama does not withdraw too quickly from your country but I am afraid he will. His generation does not know what it means to fight for something. They have been handed everything on a golden plate. We live in the age of miracles – we have gadgets and a standard of living never before thought of or attained. But it is clear to anyone who is thinking person that the Leftist way is not the way to this world or what built it. Leftist thought bought over 100 million deaths in the last century, How many will it buy in the next?
The Left is not going to allow dissent from their progrom. All you have to do is go to one of their blogs and read the comments to know this.
Nov 11, 2008 - 10:19 am 17. Joseph Somsel:Sometimes we don’t stop and count our blessings. Thanks for reminding us that, yes, we do have a lot to be thankful for.
Personally, I can’t think of a single individual that objected to Obama’s “otherness” although he’s given us many points on which to object to his policies, presentation, and capabilities.
Nov 11, 2008 - 11:18 am 18. Brian H:David T.;
Wahine is of the same mind as you. This election has been a P.T. Barnum Bamboozlement, and so many laws and Constitutional constraints and protections have been flouted that it brings the entire structure of the nation into doubt and disrepute.
Those voters who sat on their hands because of perceived imperfections in McCain have committed a great sin of omission, and will repent at leisure.
Iraqis who applaud now will repent much sooner than that.
Nov 11, 2008 - 11:28 am 19. Freedomlost:Mr. Fadhil,
Thank you for the kind words about this country. I hope your country fairs as well for the next 230+ years as ours has in the last 230. Those being said, guard your new found freedoms as a jealous husband does his wife, because there are always people trying to take too much power. It’s been happening here for about 90 years… Good luck!
Nov 11, 2008 - 4:24 pm 20. kochevnik:Hi Mohammed Fadhil
To where do the American taxpayers send the $13trillion bill reimbursing them for the cost of your liberation?
Nov 11, 2008 - 5:12 pm 21. Nathan B.:This was a beautifully-written and poignant post. It’s disappointing that so many partisans of the right have chosen to use the comments here to air their disappointment with the results of the election.
I don’t think anyone is saying that American democracy is perfect (and there are disadvantages to all democratic systems), but it remains a democracy with a real and orderly transition of power in a free and legitimate election. In a world of thuggish Putins, Mugabes, and Chavezs, why not celebrate that?
(Incidentally, let’s not have a Republican version of the Angry Left’s “He stole the election!” from 2000.)
Nov 11, 2008 - 6:00 pm 22. Jason Sieckmann:La la la, let’s all shake hands. I’m so happy! Oh yeah, wait, isn’t this like, one of the biggest neo-cons sites on the net? I mean, even Fox News doesn’t have the sort of rhetoric that gets said here.
You don’t like democrats or black people here, so let’s not pretend. You’re base is primarily white inbreds, and having one Muslim commentator say happy things doesn’t change that.
God knows you’ll never discuss an economic issue or constitutional issue. Instead we get these milk and cereal reviews of our times. Blah.
Nov 11, 2008 - 6:05 pm 23. dick:Very nice, Mohammed.
As an Englishman in the US, let me broaden your point beyond the ME. No prime minister of Pakistani descent in the UK. No German premier of Turkish descent. No Algerian in France. No Inuit in Denmark, for that matter. To follow your formulation: no “other” in any of these countries.
Yet, to listen to people in these countries, it’s America that’s the most racist place on Earth. Baffling.
All the best to you and Omar. You two guys have served your country, and the rest of us, magnificently over the past couple of years.
T
Nov 11, 2008 - 6:33 pm 24. kochevnik:Jason,
Did you see Fox dumping these mob inbreeds within minutes of the election results? Twenty years of platform and ideaology out the window in a flash. That was priceless. The repub posters are homeless and abandoned without their masters telling them what to think. For them, it’s like solitary confinement without even a torturer for company.
Apparently the US Civil War was inconclusive.
Nov 11, 2008 - 6:40 pm 25. Michael Pratt:Our current situation seems to mirror the end of the Vietnam War. America had dominated the enemy on the battlefield but relentless backstabbing at home undermined support for the war. As soon as the Democrats took power from a disgraced Richard Nixon/Ford they withdrew support for the South Vietnam gov’t and gave the green light for the North Vietnamese to invade the South. The Dems. wasted the blood and treasure spent winning the peace using the same justification being spewed by today’s Democrats. Hopefully when the Democrats pull out of Iraq, you are powerful enough to survive the onslaught. It will soon be in your hands.
Nov 11, 2008 - 6:43 pm 26. Jim Baker:Mohammed,
Nov 11, 2008 - 7:00 pm 27. Wahine:I wish I could still see my country with the same admiration. I fear my country could be pushing in the direction of the totalitarianism that we fought, in your country, to remove. We are a great people though, and we are unique in our ability to make mid-course corrections when we need to.
It’s some comfort to know at least a few others share my concerns. David T. has been speaking clearly for some time, and now Brian H. There are others, too; I hope we hear their voices soon.
When the first stench of corruption wafted skyward, it should have alarmed us all. When it was met with silence from the candidate it benefited, it should have signaled, at least to the great majority of us, how unfit he is for public service.
Our free and fair elections are foundational. I am almost as embarrassed for my country, as I am concerned for it.
A society cannot long survive if laws mean nothing. Especially to those in positions of power. At what point will one then turn and say, “Ah, now we will follow the law. This time it matters” –?
With inaction, we send the undeniable message we care as little as the lawbreaker. And it is well within his make-up to use that to his advantage.
Nov 11, 2008 - 7:00 pm 28. john from cinncinati:ya only in America!
Nov 11, 2008 - 7:39 pm 29. Truth First:The world has responded to the election of Barack Obama with joy and profound relief. Very soon, America will be pulling its military away from the occupied lands, disarming and will start the process of healing.
As President Obama has said, the road is long. There is much work of ahead of us but the truth and justice is on side. Every day Obama is President will be a day where America becomes less violent and more socially and economically just.
President Obama will end the wars, he will stop the aggression.
President Obama will end racism in all its forms.
President Obam will end hate radio and will establish a fair and objective media.
President Obama will end corporate rape and economic terrorism.
America as you have known it, will be no more. Obama is your President and you cannot stop him.
http://truthfirstnow.blogspot.com
Nov 11, 2008 - 10:28 pm 30. Valerie:Yup, that Orwellian cult of personality is really going strong. O remember thinking that Michelle Malkin’s Obamamessiah comments were over the top, but that was before I saw what the Obama supporters were writing.
I don’t know why anybody thinks Obama might be a Muslim: if his campaign is any indication, he believes that religion is the opiate of the masses, and he is a drug lord.
Nov 12, 2008 - 4:05 am 31. Valerie:To revert to the topic at hand: Today’s Wall Street Journal has an article by Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It is interesting to note that the Kurds have maintained the peace in their region. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122645258001119425.html Had the rest of Iraq responded in the manner of the Kurds, our armed forces in Iraq would have been drawn down long ago.
Nov 12, 2008 - 4:14 am 32. Lynn:To the author; thanks for the good wishes.
Nov 12, 2008 - 8:01 am 33. DO'B:Valerie, The Kurds were in a geographical position that enabled the US to give them air protection for a decade between the gulf wars. They practiced self rule during that time. They love the US and can protect most of their area. They rub shoulders with Sunni and Shia Arabs only in Kirkuk and Mosul.
Nov 12, 2008 - 11:23 am 34. mantle:As always,I’m praying daily for the Iraqi People.As well as the coalition and all who are trying to make this work.Ousting Saddam I believe was a needed thing.How many innocents were murdered under his hand? If I recall correctly,President Bush said that when the Iraqi Government wanted us out,we would go.I’m not seeing the “occupation”. Only help for those over there who are caught in the crossfire.I trust that the precious Iraqi people will be able to gain their freedom,and my heart goes out to all there as they struggle to make a new day happen-one where they can be safe and free.God Bless all over there.
Nov 12, 2008 - 1:34 pm 35. Brian H:Truth Now;
Obama will achieve exactly zero out of that list.
News flash: Reality Bites, and O’Hubris is going to lose a HUGE chunk of buttock. Soon.
Nov 12, 2008 - 2:06 pm 36. Brian H:Typo;
Truth First, not Truth Now.
It might interest you to know that those who assert honesty and truthfulness are the ones who should be disbelieved first. A truly honest man is too honest to claim honesty. A truthful man is too truthful to claim to know the truth.
You obviously qualify on neither score.
Nov 12, 2008 - 2:10 pm 37. Kafir:kochevnik
Ask the Germans, French, Koreans, and Japanese. Surely they also received such bills….
Nov 12, 2008 - 4:48 pm 38. Thom:Re: Truth first.
What? Is that post a joke? Surely no one is that naive other than relatives and not even all his aunts would be.
Nov 12, 2008 - 7:27 pm 39. Marc Malone:Kumbaya! Seriously, Mr. Fadhil is whistling past the graveyard. He’s hoping and praying that Obama will not change the deal in Iraq. Hope. Not Change. Wasn’t that the slogan? No, wait….
Nov 13, 2008 - 12:52 am 40. Lynn:Truth First;
Nov 13, 2008 - 6:11 am 41. Sarah Rolph:He is not GOD. Not even close. The real truth is, as long as men seek power there will be greed, war, and suffering. How do you expect one man to end all that? I direct your attention to Zimbabwe, Iran, DR Congo, N Korea, Syria etc;. Will Obama wave a magic wand?
Thank you, Mr. Fadhil, for reminding us who we are. Your perspective is most welcome.
The ongoing transformation of Iraq is similarly inspiring. Let freedom ring!
Nov 13, 2008 - 6:57 am 42. sue morgan:I remember watching the first Iraq vote after the invasion. The people were walking for miles just to be able to vote. They proudly held up their ink stained thumbs to show that they had voted even though doing so placed many of them in jeopardy. My friends and I marveled at the difference between the two countries. Here the voter turn out is usually a small percentage of the registered vote. We commented that we felt small with our constant excuses for not going to the polls.It seems to be human nature not to value something until you are about to or have lost it. We came close to losing much of our heritage during this last 4 years of Bush/Cheny occupation. But once more the American people have shown what they are made of and done the “right” thing. I am proud to be an American. I saved my voter reciept to go in a scrap book that I am making for my grandaughter. I think some day she may take pride in knowing that her Grandmother helped to change the world.But it is always good to know that others see the good in your country and its people. Thank you for sharing. God bless America AND Iraq.
Nov 13, 2008 - 1:00 pm 43. Bob:To those of you who have posted that President-elect Obama will not follow the rule of law… have you all been asleep for the last 8 years? Torture, illegal imprisonment, invasion of foreign nations … are these legal? Better get out those old high school textbooks on civics and do a bit of studying. It would seem to me that Mr’s Bush and Cheney have done a bit of “illegal acts”…. although I’m sure the recipients of these acts would call them something worse. Have you no shame?! America is better than that! Now act like it!
Nov 13, 2008 - 8:01 pm 44. Brian H:Bob;
Those accusations are false or stupid, or both.
I supported Gore in 2000. Every year since then I’ve been happier and happier that he lost.
Nov 14, 2008 - 12:48 am 45. kim from canada (lives in an igloo!):I fully expect to have the opposite experience this time.
anyone ever see that music video, aerosmith, where the pimply faced teenage boy is having phonesex with an obese old lady who is ironing and smoking, but they each think they are talking to a hot 20-something? living a lie. no way are you an Iraqi man, living in Iraq, thanking George Bush and America for your “liberation”, any of you who are buying that (bless your little hearts), will probably want to also buy a vacation resort package to beautiful sunny downtown baghdad … shame on you “mohammed” for preying on and playing with these people, you are part of the sickness, the rest of you should read a real blog from this war-torn, devastated country, like “baghdad burning”, or better yet, google iraq photos and see how “liberated” they are today, oh yes they are FREE! Free of their jobs, free of their homes, free of their children/brothers/uncles/neighbours, their lives, their limbs, their life as they knew it, free of peace.
got to this site by accident but i have to leave RIGHT now, this blog is CREEEEEEEPY
Nov 14, 2008 - 1:11 am 46. Quote of the Day « DPGI - the aftermath:[...] Read his article. [...]
Nov 14, 2008 - 9:57 am 47. Exguru:Dear Mohammad & Omar,
In the darkest days of the insurgency I wrote to assure you that Iraqis had until Jan. 20, 2009 to get control of their country. That was the “worst case scenario,” and now the worst case has come to pass.
I am an American who voted for George W. Bush twice and for Sen. McCain. Yet, I do believe Iraq will, by Jan. 20, have had enough time and enough help from America to live in freedom and independence from then on–if it is ever going to do so. You would not have had a whole lot more help from a President McCain, either, because most Americans of both parties now feel they have done about all they can for Iraq.
You are right. George W. Bush was your liberator, with an important partner in Tony Blair. You should erect monuments to both of them in the Baghdad square where the statue of Saddam was torn down, and remember them both for centuries as great friends of Iraq. (Make Bush’s monument about twice as large as Blair’s).
It is my hope that George W. Bush will eventually be seen as the Simon Bolivar of the Middle East, and that a Copt will some day be elected head of Egypt, and that all of Iraq’s neighbors will soon begin to envy your prosperity and stability, and copy you. The silent majority must get control of Iran, sooner or later. The satraps in the Kingdom and its environs are already ceding ground to their people. Afghanistan has a fighting chance. Lebanon might evolve into a more stable democracy. Syria can always have another coup d’etat, and Jordan can improve. The whole region is coming out of darkness, and Iraq will be the great catalyst. It was very much in the interests of the U.S. and the world for us to go in there and depose Saddam. It was no mistake. We came to stop the breeding of terrorists in the whole region, with our eyes open, and taking the long view. Thanks to David Petraeus, it looks like we were successful.
Nov 14, 2008 - 8:08 pm 48. From Iraq « I Think ^(Link) Therefore I Err:[...] Iraq the Model gives us the view from over there on our election results. America presented a rare example that other nations aren’t familiar with — a magnificent case of bringing down the walls of partisanship and race for the sake of the country. In our part of the world, immigrants are refugees, and they and their offspring are destined to remain inferior and despised for as long as they live. Not so in America. [...]
Nov 15, 2008 - 5:26 am 49. Bob in Michigan USA:Your post shows incredible insight and points the way forward for the Middle East. I’ve been reading your posts almost as long as you’ve been writing them.
Please continue to blog and stay safe.
God Bless.
Nov 15, 2008 - 12:57 pm 50. Rosemary:Hi Mohammed. Great post as usual. While there are some legimate issues that are still outstanding, I agree with your spirit of this article. WE LOST. No one is going to investigate this. So we must get ready to move forward in a positive way. Oppose when it is necessary, agree when he correct. Grow up, and lay off Mohammed. He is my friend, and I do not like what you are saying to him. He is a visitor, not a citizen. This is all new to him. You do not feed a new born child hot pilaf, ruebarb pie, lamb chops, brocoli and Filet Migon! Sheesh!
Nov 16, 2008 - 11:25 am