Preparing for the Iraqi Elections

For some time now, Coalition Forces in Iraq have been preparing for the elections December 15. Numerous operations have been conducted, both large and small, to disrupt the terrorists' ability to commit violence or affect voting.

Just in the period between Nov 26 and Dec 2, there were 450 company-level combined operations throughout Iraq.

As this MNF-Iraq press release points out, huge quantities of weapons have been found.

In addition, many bad guys are no longer on the streets to murder and maim.

Combined forces detained more than 440 anti-Iraqi forces, captured or killed 31 foreign fighters and captured three bomb makers.

These will be historic elections. And yet, we haven't heard much in our media about the campaigning, about the candidates who risk their lives by being on the ballot.

At the FDD blog, Sara Levy puts it this way:

On December 15, the people of Iraq will do what no American should ever have to contemplate. They will risk their lives to vote. For the third time this year, the brave people of Iraq will go to the polls to determine their future.

Yes, as they have done in two previous elections, the Iraqi people will risk their lives to vote. But, the threat will be diminished because of the hard work done by the US military and the increasingly capable Iraqi forces.

This election next week is a significant reason why lives have been lost in Iraq, why we have spent so much time, money, and energy there. Freedom is taking root where once a brutal dictator stood. It is fitting that while brave Iraqis stand to be candidates for office, while the Iraqi people stand to dip their fingers in the purple ink and vote, that this former dictator can only stand in the dock and shout pathetically.

If the feckless Democrats had been in charge, would Saddam be standing where he is now? Would there be elections next week? I think the answer to that is obvious.