Militant Moderate: There are some bad people in the world

Sunday, January 30, 2005

There are some bad people in the world

I don't just mean the international terrorists who have threatened to kill those planning to vote in the Iraqi elections today. I don't mean the George Galloways, John Pilgers, and the Stop the War Coalitionists of the world, whose hatred of America blinkers their senses and leads them into supporting islamofascists who do not care one iota for the best interests of the Iraqis. Instead, I am talking about some of the people on this BBC thread who try and discredit the Iraqi election taking place today.

I mean people like Usuf, from Kannur, India, who says that "what is done in Iraq is a colonial farce."

I mean people like Mark Beauchamp, from Montreal, Canada, who asks "if this kind of so-called democratic election were carried out in Syria, Iran or North Korea, would the US accept it as a legitimate election?"

I mean people like Vlad, from Toronto, who wants to know "How can any elections in an occupied country under constant threat of terrorism ever be a success?"

I mean people like James K, from Exeter, who believes the elections are "completely farcical. It's a mess and has nothing to do with democracy."

What planet do these people live on? Do they really care about democracy? It has been heartwarming to see so many Iraqis turning out to vote today, despite the dire threats made against them. For no matter what people thought of the war, that is in the past now. We can bicker all we like about it, but it cannot change the fact that the US and the UK invaded Iraq and toppled the Ba'athist regime. What is important now is making sure that Iraq can work, and that for the first time Iraq is run for the Iraqi people themselves.

The people making these bone-headed comments on the BBC website should look at the posts from the Iraqis themselves. They are delighted by the fact that for the first time, they have had the chance to vote for their leaders. Those who wish non-participation in the elections are only harming themselves - the primary purpose of this Parliament will be to write a constitution for the running of the country in the future. Will it be a success? Well, establishing democracy is a success, but the chances of the constitution surviving a long time into the future are slim, if historical precedents are anything to go by.

Without wishing to be premature, today was a great day in world history. Not because it vindicated George Bush, but because the democractic freedoms that we take for granted here in Britain are one step closer for the Iraqis today. There is still a long road ahead, but there is much to be hopeful about. Let us hope the Iraqis prove their detractors wrong.