Comment: Huge defeat for Al-Zarqawi, Al Qaeda, & the pessimists, and victory for Iraq & Pres. Bush (updated 10/16)
By Andrew Cochran
Pure opinion here: I don't see how anybody, even the most dishonest of anti-American and anti-Bush propagandists, can interpret the day's events as anything but a huge defeat for Al-Zarqawi, the other terrorists there, the Al Qaeda movement, and the pessimists. Violence was minimal - Sunni turnout was high - the top Sunni party endorsed the constitution, and the leader of the biggest association of Sunni clerics endorsed the voting process. This was the biggest step for the realization of President Bush's vision for Iraq, and it went off very smoothly considering the forecasts. We'll see how the results come out and whether the parties treat them with respect. But Al Zarqawi can't hold a city any longer than the joint forces let him - he hasn't sparked a civil war - and the Sunnis are now moving towards political solutions. And Saddam goes on trial next week. UPDATE 10/16: Early counts and ground reports indicate the referendum passed - and 5 U.S. soldiers died from an IED explosion yesterday.