Surrounded by guards, thousands of paper ballots, hand counts, snipers at the polls, one major group boycotting, people voting twice...fair???

Probably about as fair as it could be under these kinds of circumstances. George W. Bush has made one mistake after another in Iraq. Lying about the reasons we went in, going it alone, snubbing Europe and the UN, dissing the Pope, not listening to his generals, failing to protect and arm troops, filling Halliburton's coffers and then Abu Grahib!

But on January 30th, a beautiful thing happened. The Iraqi people really came out to vote. A huge turnout braved snipers and suicide bombers. An estimated 60% turnout in some districts rivaling USA presidential elections. Amazing!

And we need to give the devil his due.

This was a good thing, and now, there is just a chance, that the new government in Iraq can be better than the one we took down. A possibility has opened up. Its up to the Iraqis to seize this chance and take back their country from the warlords and thugs who run things around there.

But before you think I've lost my mind (and I know some of you have told me that I'm pretty far gone!)I do know there was a lot of excitement over an election in Vietnam many years ago and hopes ran high then too. Nothing much came of that, I'm sorry to report.

The Iraqi election was the 2nd good thing George Bush has done since becoming president. The first was getting Libya to quit pursuing WMD's.