Reviewing The Iraqi Elections

Robert Kagan and William Kristol suggest the elections were a true turning point:

One 50-year-old Shiite schoolteacher told the Los Angeles Times, "I am proud as an Iraqi because our country is becoming a center of attraction for all Arab countries. The new situation in Iraq, the democratic system, is starting to put pressure on the Arab systems to make some changes toward democracy." Such thoughts cannot yet be freely expressed in the salons of Washington, D.C., and New York City. But they seem to make sense in today's Iraq.

Maybe with time everyone will be able to recognize both setbacks and progress in Iraq. Despite my own biases, I'm getting better at recognizing the setbacks and mistakes; if I can do that, maybe there's hope for those who won't recognize progress.