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Taking A Big Step Towards Democracy
Friday, February 4, 2005
By: Senator Jim Bunning
On January 30th the Iraqi people risked their lives by going to the polls for the first time in nearly fifty years. It is estimated sixty-percent of eligible voters braved homicide bombers, mortars, and bullets to cast votes for the Transitional National Assembly. The assembly is charged to draft an Iraqi constitution that will bring new freedoms to Iraqis who were repressed under the tyrannical rule of Saddam Hussein.
Last year, I led a bi-partisan Senate delegation to see firsthand the situation in Iraq. We talked with many Iraqis and I came away from the trip knowing, if given the opportunity, Iraqis would embrace democracy with open arms. Iraqis are patriotic and proud people, and it has shown during this election.
Democracy in Iraq is in its infancy, we must not cut and run as some people on the other side of the aisle have suggested. If we do not stay the course and hold firm against the terrorists then we will go back to square one. We must keep building up Iraq’s security forces so they are viable and able to conduct anti-terror operations.
The Middle East has been a troubled region of the world for decades. Once the cradle of civilization, the Middle East has turned into the cradle of Islamic extremists. Having a free and democratic country in the heart of the Middle East will give hope to people who have been repressed for years. As we saw in the fight against communism in the late 1980's and early 1990's, once the cork of freedom is popped it is hard to put it back in the bottle.
With free and democratic countries in the Middle East, the national security of America will be strengthened, not weakened. The march of freedom is moving forward everyday with successful national elections in Afghanistan and Palestine. President Bush along with our allies have shown a great resolve in spreading the seeds of democracy in these troubled lands, where only a short time ago tyranny ruled the day.
Exactly two years ago, if you were an average Iraqi protesting Saddam’s regime you and your family would be tortured and possibly even killed for speaking out against his rule. Now over eight million Iraqis have expressed themselves by going to the polls and freely deciding who will represent them. Times have surely changed.
As Iraq takes its first big step towards democracy, we must not forget the sacrifices that are being made each and every day by our men and women in uniform. Without the guidance of our brave solders, Iraqi democracy would be like a ship listless at sea. That ship of democracy will inevitably go through some rough seas ahead, but it will hold together because Iraqis have shown the world they are not scared.
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