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Extreme makeover of Iraq...
JWR ^ | 2-1-05 | Cal Thomas

Posted on 02/01/2005 5:55:54 AM PST by FlyLow

Whatever the actual voter turnout in the Iraq election (initial reports as high as 72 percent seem inflated, perhaps the result of overly enthusiastic poll watchers), the spectacle of so many Iraqis defying death and dictatorial religious leaders to cast ballots is a strong first step in affirming the Bush Administration's policy to spread freedom in lands that have not known it.

While rejoicing in the scene that included a 94-year-old woman being carried by her son to a polling place and fewer terrorist bombings than forecast, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice soberly noted on the Sunday talk shows that the terrorists will "try again" to disrupt the process leading to a new constitution and self rule. "The hard work is still ahead," Rice said. She called the terrorists who want to prevent people from deciding their own future "brutal intimidators."

President Bush characterized the election "a resounding success" and thanked Americans for being "patient and resolute."

(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: calthomas; iraq; iraqielection

1 posted on 02/01/2005 5:55:54 AM PST by FlyLow
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To: FlyLow

Some of you may be too young to remember these ancient occurrences, so it is time for a history lesson:

U.S. Encouraged by Vietnam Vote
by Peter Grose
New York Times
September 4, 1967.

United States officials were surprised and heartened today at the size of turnout in South Vietnam's presidential election despite a Vietcong terrorist campaign to disrupt the voting. According to reports from Saigon, 83 percent of the 5.85 million registered voters cast their ballots yesterday. Many of them risked reprisals threatened by the Vietcong. A successful election has long been seen as the keystone in President Johnson's policy of encouraging the growth of constitutional processes in South Vietnam.


2 posted on 02/01/2005 6:22:39 AM PST by Wesley Addison
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To: Wesley Addison

And your point is?


3 posted on 02/01/2005 6:30:50 AM PST by CasearianDaoist
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To: Wesley Addison

You're building a nice little collection of posts for yourself. (Check it out, folks).


4 posted on 02/01/2005 6:33:58 AM PST by SlowBoat407 (My tagline knows what you're thinking... you beast!)
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To: MeekOneGOP

ping


5 posted on 02/01/2005 6:35:00 AM PST by SlowBoat407 (My tagline knows what you're thinking... you beast!)
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To: Wesley Addison

Obviously this shows we should not pull out of the conflict prematurely, as we did in Vietnam.


6 posted on 02/01/2005 6:36:51 AM PST by keats5
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To: Wesley Addison
Oh no! The North Vietnamese are gonna take over the South of Iraq?

BTW, welcome to FR.

7 posted on 02/01/2005 6:45:58 AM PST by AxelPaulsenJr (Pray Daily For Our Troops and President Bush)
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To: Wesley Addison

Gee. I guess we should learn the lesson from Vietnam then, and not bail out on them, lest they be turned over to the totalitarians. Good point!


8 posted on 02/01/2005 6:49:54 AM PST by William McKinley
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To: SlowBoat407; Wesley Addison
Bye, Wesley Addison.

"He's dead, Jim!"


9 posted on 02/01/2005 6:54:08 AM PST by MeekOneGOP (There is only one GOOD 'RAT: one that has been voted OUT of POWER !! Straight ticket GOP!)
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To: Wesley Addison

And this election in Vietnam took place in 100% of the country right?

No! there was a small difference between this election and Vietnam's, namely it was called North Vietnam.

One of these days the appeasers will understand there is NO comparison between Iraq and Vietnam. unfortunately it will probably be sometime around 2010. Since some democrats still think they are in a majority, evidently they are slow learners.


10 posted on 02/01/2005 6:56:06 AM PST by federal
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To: Wesley Addison
Yep and now we can bail out again and then we will have another Polpot and the killing fields along with another group of boat people and the millions dead. Would that make you happy? Would that give you a warm fuzzy feeling. Oh better yet why couldn't we get some ole Huey's and have them load up our diplomatic staff from the roof of our Embassy. That would make a great photo op.
11 posted on 02/01/2005 6:57:47 AM PST by reagandemo (The battle is near are you ready for the sacrifice?)
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To: Wesley Addison; Admin Moderator

[NOT AN OPUS] You know... the only thing I dislike about Free Republic is how quickly folks get bounced just for espousing a different, if misguided, point of view. Unless a troll is a complete moron, can't we keep them around for a bit and have fun with them? Who knows... you may just be the light of reason that brings them logic. WTF...


12 posted on 02/01/2005 6:58:07 AM PST by ericthecurdog (Groove IS in the heart.)
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To: ericthecurdog

Eric, I tend to agree with you in the case of someone who shows promise. Ol' Wesley had a history (albeit a short one) or snide and critical posts that showed definite trollish tendencies. He was a little more low-key than most, but the signs were still there.


13 posted on 02/01/2005 7:03:18 AM PST by SlowBoat407 (My tagline knows what you're thinking... you beast!)
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To: Wesley Addison

Yeah, that might be a clever comparison if:

1) There were a communist Northern Iraq

and

2) They had the backing of a superpower


14 posted on 02/01/2005 7:31:16 AM PST by Constantine XIII
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To: ericthecurdog

You're right.

Though I disagree with you about the completeness of this particular moron... :)


15 posted on 02/01/2005 7:32:31 AM PST by Constantine XIII
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To: Wesley Addison
Yes, and the Viet Cong was shattered in the Tet offensive, but won the victory in the news media. Check it out:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1124435/posts

You can do further Googling on your own. Do you have links for your article on the 1967 elections?
16 posted on 02/01/2005 7:38:10 AM PST by Woodworker (Damned if you do and damned when you don't!)
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To: Wesley Addison
Of course like Vietnam,the Soviets and the Chinese are providing Al Q massive support!! In point of fact, the VC were destroyed subsequent to that election(Tet 68). In contrast to Nam, we have a president generously endowed with cojones. The disgraceful American bugout from Vietnam will not be repeated!
17 posted on 02/01/2005 7:42:16 AM PST by basque (Basque by birth. American by act of God)
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To: Woodworker

Don't that anger you, that folks still think we lost?


18 posted on 02/01/2005 7:43:35 AM PST by mojojockey
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To: Constantine XIII
You're right...Though I disagree with you about the completeness of this particular moron.

Yeah.. point taken. ... but at least this one didn't use 'U' instead of 'you.' he seemed to be a rather well spoken complete moron.

19 posted on 02/01/2005 7:45:58 AM PST by ericthecurdog (Groove IS in the heart.)
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To: ericthecurdog

You've got a point. :)

Publik skool edumacation just isn't what it used to be.


20 posted on 02/01/2005 7:48:06 AM PST by Constantine XIII
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