GM's Corner : Spring: The New Beginning

May 01, 2005

Spring: The New Beginning

Dateline Baghdad: I don't know how I missed this, but I did:

"Iraq formed its first democratically elected government in more than 50 years on Thursday, ending three months of political deadlock that has crippled efforts to end violence.

The 275-seat parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of the cabinet proposed by Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, ending a power vacuum that has existed since Jan. 30 elections."

Two words here are important: 1) DEMOCRATICALLY and 2)ELECTED. What a marvelous thing, whether or not anyone else agrees with me, a marvelous thing indeed. Equally important, is that while the Iraqi parliament debated for some 3 months following the elections, a pause that caused many Iraqi's to question the ability of the government to function, it was also passed on the 68th birthday of one Saddam Hussein. Remember him?

Speaking just before this vote, Ibrahim al-Jaafari the Prime Minister of Iraq noted:

"The journey was full of blood, words, sweat and tears until this day, when our people gave you their trust to carry out this responsibility ... "

"Full of Blood, ... Sweat and Tears" of course echoes Winston Churchill. While Jaafari may not be another Churchill, the task before him and the Iraqi people is just as daunting.

Recently also, another mass grave was unearthed in Iraq containing some 113 people. Of that number, 108 were women and children. According to the Post:

Of the 113 bodies removed from one trench, two-thirds were children or teenagers. Most of the children were very young, and 10 were infants, authorities said.

This evidence will doubtlessly be used against Hussein in the upcoming trials.

Hussein could not be reached for comment!

There are those who still argue that this war was a mistake, that there were no WMD's found. That part is true, they have not been found which of course doesn't mean that they didn't exist. That point is, however a moot point in my humble opinion, Bush and company also argued for the spread of democracy long before the war started and that part is coming true.

So, here's the recap: New Iraqi government, new parliament, new cabinet, old dictator in jail awaiting trial, new evidence. Spring, the awakening, is here.

A couple of tips of the GM's Corner Chapeaux to Captain's Quarters for the tip on the grave site and to Citizen Smash for the tip on the Iraqi Cabinet.

Posted by GM Roper at May 1, 2005 06:02 AM | TrackBack

Comments

I recently offered these sincere comments to an Iraqi Blog:

"Most people living in the US today are lucky because they inherited a democratic country; your task is more difficult because you are building one. You must have patience, because there will be disappointments; you must be devoted, because there will be challenges; you must work hard, because freedom is never free. Many prayers are being said for the Iraqi people--that they may succeed in this daunting task, including mine."

I do wish them well.

Posted by HB at May 1, 2005 08:21 AM

And why do we think that no mention of yet another mass grave went unreported in the press?

How about this: Is it just possible that the "intellectuals" and the pressies and the far Left, who preen and smugly laugh at jokes about the "stupid cowboy", are actually not so bright as they think? How many really have studied the world and just where it is going? What about the fact the Saudi Arabia use to be a bloody wasteland. No one actually lived there or wanted to. Well, a few. Bang, oil was discovered. Post WW I, more and more and more money flowed into The Kingdom. They had so much that now EVERYONE thought it would be nice to be a Saudi. Well, not everyone. There was so much money that all Saudis had free everything. Health care, education, housing, etc. OK, get to the point. But, the population kept rising and rising. All those young Saudis that went to school didn't have anything to do. Young males with nothing to do are.......trouble. I could go on, but I suspect that those that read these words know of what I speak. Sadly, our own professorate and media are not as well educated. "Blood leads" and scandal sells. I am disgusted at the drumfire coverage of Michael Jackson. Try him. If guilty, jail him. How about the "run away bride." Are these things really worthy of constant and way too much attention? Grumpy speaks. P.S. How about the unemployment rate in Germany and other EU countries? Are enough people watching?

Posted by tad at May 1, 2005 12:19 PM