Breaking News: Iraq is a Democracy

Iraq's provincial elections, the country's first national elections in four years, were peaceful and smooth. Turnout was relatively high, as even millions of Sunni Arabs participated, unlike in previous elections.

Although downplayed by the mainstream media, these elections appear to confirm that Iraq is the first major Arab democratic republic. Only tiny Lebanon could be regarded as also having recently become democratic among Arab states. Many critics in the media and elsewhere had stated that Arab culture in particular, and even Islam in general, was incompatible with democracy in Mesopotamia, the Cradle of Civilization.

The presence of a free, democratic republic in the same land that is the origin of the Semitic peoples, marks a spectacular success of President George W. Bush's goal of replacing tyranny with freedom, in the belief that free peoples, unlike dictatorships, generally do not support aggression or terrorism, as Iraq's Baathist regime under Saddam Hussein had.

Moreover, Iraq's provincial elections reflected apparent contentment on the part of the Iraqi people. Whereas change has come to nearly every major democracy since September 11, 2001, the incumbent parties in Iraq did well at the ballot box. Apparently, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a secular Arab Shi'ite, has gained the confidence of a majority of Iraqis, including Sunnis, to provide security and prosperity.

It was noteworthy that the Iraqis themselves were in charge of security for these elections for the first time, which is further evidence that American troops, if their withdrawal is completed carefully, will be able to leave behind a peaceful Iraq than can defend itself, and continue to be an ally in the War on Terrorism. A withdrawal under such circumstances, as appears increasingly likely to occur, would be one with honor. Indeed, the Battle of Iraq would be a clear victory.