How do the Iraqi's feel about the Election? Hey, let's ask them!

Here are excerpts from several young Iraqi Bloggers concerning their feeelings on the election and us.

Will the new government be stronger or more reliable than the several interim governments we've had? Not likely. A government won't be respected unless it is perceived as sovereign by the people, and occupation in itself goes against every suggestion of sovereignty and democracy. How does one put faith in a government that needs the use of foreign armies to keep it in power?

In my opinion, elections in Iraq cannot be democratic under a foreign occupation - especially when the election lists were composed largely of the same people who supported the invasion and occupation of Iraq. We are recycling the same names, faces and ideologies of sectarian and ethnic divide.

I don't believe elections will lead to democracy in Iraq unless they are truly free elections - that is, free of foreign influence and not serving foreign interests. If democracy was equivalent with elections in general, Iran would be considered a democracy, wouldn't it?

Well put. Here is another opinion.

Looking back at the things we achieved since the war, I feel very proud. Although we hear shootings and bombings every day. We reached this far, and we are going on, on and on to the finish. Yes, I am optimistic about the future. Life in Iraq has been so bad so far, but I see a bright future. I see an Iraq with full-time electricity, full-time water and full-time security.

Well I hope this young man is correct. As much as I would like to see the Bush administration fall on their face (a wish that is being granted daily right now), I do not want it to happen at the expense of these people. I hope that Iraq does achieve independence and freedom, from both Iraqi tyranny and American occupation!