Saturday, January 29, 2005
VOTERS SLIGHTED
The Associated Press reports:
Hundreds of Iraqis streamed into polling places in five U.S. cities Friday, the first day they could vote in their homeland’s election. Nearly 26,000 people have registered to vote in five U.S. metropolitan areas with heavy Iraqi populations: Detroit, Chicago, Nashville, Tenn., Los Angeles and Washington. Tens of thousands more are expected to vote in 13 other countries during balloting that runs through Sunday.
In Iraq and around the globe, the voting has been a cause for jubilation among Iraqis who have long been tormented by Saddam, but the threat of violence is still present. Insurgents bent on disrupting the election process have killed U.S. soldiers—two more died Friday in Baghdad—set off suicide car bombs, assassinated officials and bombed polling places.
Adim Altalibi struggled to hold back tears Friday after voting in an Iraqi election for the first time. All he could think about were his five nephews, all killed under Saddam Hussein’s regime.
The article, a very good piece compiled by four AP writers, goes on to cover several other aspects of the election. Overall, its tone is positive ... but the New York Times (unimpressed by “tens of thousands” voting and tearful Iraqis celebrating democracy) decided on this sour headline:
Slight Turnout Is Expected as Iraqis Abroad Begin to Vote
They’ll run this election down any chance they get, even if they look like idiots in the process. That headline, by the way, has since been removed.
(Via Alan R.M. Jones)