How about the MSM's reporter in Lebanon?
Here's an analysis from the editorial pages of Lebanon's Daily Star, the most important English-language paper in the area. (Note: Reason Contributing Editor Michael Young is editor of the Star's commentary section).
In reclaiming Iraq for its people, Sunnis must be brought in from the cold
The Daily Star
Monday, February 14, 2005
Iraq has been reclaimed - we hope. Figures released by the Iraqi Electoral Commission on Sunday indicate that, indeed, Iraq has experienced an amazing democratic reclaiming by its people. Consider the following: Around 8.55 million Iraqis, representing 58 percent of registered voters, cast ballots just over a week ago in the first elections since the regime of dictator Saddam Hussein fell in early 2003.
While 58 percent of registered voters may not sound like a groundswell of support for a fledging democratic process, factors such as the bloody insurgency being waged by former Baathists and Islamist extremists, and a very long draught as far as democratic political culture goes, must be taken into account. Iraq is still not a safe place - especially for voters and National Assembly candidates - and the absence of an open and free sociopolitical environment must have taken their toll on the will of many Iraqis to exercise their new democratic rights as citizens. This is understandable - Rome was not built in a day, and a new, modern and democratic Iraq will likewise not be a quick proposition.
Thus, under the circumstances, the turnout was extraordinary, and figures such as these cannot be manufactured - after a week of close international scrutiny, there is no sign of pressure having been brought to bear to "encourage" Iraqis to the voting booths, or to vote in particular ways. There would have been information leaks, and the world would know by now, if the situation had been otherwise.
What is a more concerning is the low turnout among the country's Sunni population, which reached its nadir in the Sunni-dominated Anbar province where only 2 percent of registered voters made their way to the polling booths.
The potential fallout from this fact is exacerbated by the success of the United Iraqi Alliance - the Shiite religious list endorsed by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani - which won more then 47 percent of the vote and is set to be the largest single parliamentary bloc by taking an expected 132 seats in the 275-seat National Assembly. Sunnis, with only a handful of seats, will be at odds with the political resurgence of the long-oppressed Shiite majority.
In short, right now is the time for the newly dominant Shiites to begin reconciliation with their Sunni countrymen. In fact, another way of looking at the United Iraqi Alliance's victory is that it now shoulders 47 percent of the political responsibility for Iraq's future. Among other measures, this means that every effort must be made for the full participation of Sunnis in the next national elections. This may necessitate a higher public profile on the part of Ayatollah Sistani - he may have a crucial role to play in fostering both confidence in and comfort with a Shiite-dominated government on the part of the country's minorities.
However, fostering this confidence and comfort is not only the responsibility of the United Iraqi Alliance: it is also the responsibility of the Kurdish alliance that won 25 percent of the vote and that will take some 71 seats in the National Assembly.
In the meantime, there must be tangible evidence of justice and the institution of the rule of law over the course of this year. If this can be achieved, the challenge to bring Sunnis in from the cold will be well on the way to being met.
Copyright (c) 2005 The Daily Star |
