Iraq Watch: December 15, 2005

Iraqis Turn Out in Waves to Vote

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqis throughout the country, from Mosul to Basra, turned out in mass on Thursday to vote in the nations landmark parliamentary elections. Despite sporadic violence Iraqis of all religious sects and ethnicities came out to the polling stations in large numbers. For the majority of participating Iraqis the vote was a celebratory affair with many proudly displaying their purple ink-stained fingers.

Even minority Sunnis, who largely boycotted the January elections, streamed to the ballot box. Voting in the largely Sunni city of Ramadi, Yahya Abdul-Jalil stated, "We lost a lot during the last elections, but this time we will take our normal and key role in leading this country." Other Sunnis said they were voting in an attempt to speed up the withdrawl of foreign occupation forces. "I came to vote because I want the Americans to leave Iraq. Things will be much better after they leave" said Ahmed Jassim of Mosul.

Iraqi electoral officials estimated, according to the New York Times, that the turnout from Thursday's election might be as high as 11 million. AFP put the turnout at 60-80%. Final election results will not be known for approximately two weeks although preliminary results will likely be released within the coming days. The conservative Shiite bloc, the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), is expected to once again garner the most seats on Iraq's new parliament. Abbasiya Ahmad, a Baghdad native said she cast her ballot for the UIA because "They are clerics, and clerics do not steal our money."

Government spokesman Laith Kubba said simply but poignantly, "It's been a good day for Iraq."

Elsewhere, the U.S. military announced that a U.S. Marine, assigned to the II MEF, was killed in an IED attack yesterday near Ramadi.