Another Victory in Iraq

Sources indicate that somewhere between 55 and 60 percent of eligible voters participated in Iraq over the weekend in the referendum to accept or reject the new Iraqi constitution. Regardless of whether the constitution is approved by the voters, I have to think that such a high voter turnout for the second election in a row, in a country that until recently was ruled by the iron fist of dictatorship, is an overwhelming victory!

And yet to look at the reports files by the mainstream American media, you would think things were hopeless, with the entire country bathed in a bloody quagmire of insurgency and terrorism. Recent headlines lament:

• MSNBC: Progress in Iraq, but hard road ahead


• CNN: Arab press split on Iraq's future


• ABC News: Iraq to Remain Violent Despite Vote


• Houston Chronicle: As Iraqi’s votes tallied, U.S. airstrike kills 70


• Washington Times: Iraq war muddles role of women (huh?)

Here in Texas, we could only wish for a 60% turnout in the November election, where several amendments to the Texas State Constitution – such as the definition of marriage (one man, one woman) – will be put to vote. Instead, local officials and talking heads are predicting around five to eight percent of registered voters to participate next month.