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Iraqis flock to polls, take part in democracy

By Spc. Rick Rzepka
December 16, 2005

BAGHDAD (Army News Service, Dec. 16, 2005) -- Millions of Iraqi citizens flocked to the polls Dec. 15 to vote under the new Iraqi Constitution, giving birth to a Middle East democracy.

Gen. George W. Casey, Multi National Force-Iraq commanding general, said Iraq's transition into democracy "has not come about by accident or coincidence, but by shear will power and the determination of the Iraqi people.”

Even Saddam loyalists, who turned their backs on January's election, have done an about-face and encouraged fellow Sunnis to vote in the Parliamentary elections, according to news reports. Some Sunnis went so far as to say they were prepared to defend polling stations from al Qaida terrorists.

Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, also encouraged his followers to become involved by issuing a fatwa urging Iraqis to vote Thursday.

“The future of Iraq is in the hands of the Iraqi people,” said U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad Dec. 6. “The future of the Middle East is important to the future of the world.”

The significance of the elections is also evident to many service members In Iraq.

“It means a lot to be here doing my job and to be a part of this; a part of history in the making,” said Airman 1st Class Brittany Barnes, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing,

She and fellow Senior Airman Jose Peterson, 332nd Air Wing, said that the election is a major milestone in the quest for peace.

“They're setting up for their own independence, sort of like our 4th of July and that makes me feel good to see this. It's a right they've never had before and I'm proud to be part of giving them that,” said Peterson.

“It's great to be taking part in something like this,” said Staff Sgt. Willie Signil, an instructor at the Noncommissioned Officer Academy on Q-West Base. As a member of the cadre, Signil trains Iraqi recruits in basic soldier skills such as entering and clearing procedures, basic marksmanship with the AK-47 rifle and land navigation. During the elections, his former students will provide security for polling sites.

“I believe they can handle that job,” said Signil. “This nation is finally coming out of oppression. To be a part of this is something good. You're a part of history.”

For the first time, Iraqis will be represented by a permanent, democratically-elected legislative body.

(Editor’s note: Sgt. Rachel A. Brune, 101st Sustainment Brigade contributed to this story. Spc. Rick Rzepka is assistant editor of the Scimitar newspaper in Baghdad.)