Free Republic

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Final results indicate that Iraq's draft constitution has been adopted by Iraqis voting in the Oct. 15 referendum.

President’s job approval hits 45%; Voters optimistic about Iraq after Constitution passage—New Zogby America Poll President Bush, his job approval rating beleaguered by poor marks in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, rebounded from historic lows this summer to 45% in Zogby International’s latest poll, with job approval numbers bumping back up into the range where they have hovered for most of his second term. The survey also found that, while voters do not give the President passing marks on his handling of the Iraq War, half (50%) believe the recently-passed Iraqi constitution is a major step in the right direction...

Although the results of Iraq’s constitutional referendum were almost immediately cast into doubt by fraud allegations, Reza Aslan, whose bestselling book No god but God: The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam predicted a bright future for democracy in the Islamic world, remained optimistic: “Even before Iraq’s constitution was ratified, dire predictions were being made that it would pave the way for the creation of an Islamic theocracy. But whatever problems the new constitution poses for the future of Iraq, the role of Islam in the state is not likely to be one of them.” Aslan maintained this even while...

After last week's constitutional vote, what's America's primary mission in Iraq? The same as it's been all along: to hunt down terrorists and insurgents, to eliminate Islamo-fascists, including both al-Qaeda forces and the Saddam Hussein loyalists who learned the wrong lesson when they were spared by American troops in 2003. The chattering classes say that mission is not going well. Most Americans in uniform disagree. “I go up on the Hill and everybody's wringing their hands and everybody's worried,” said Gen. John Abizaid, head of the U.S. Central Command. “But when I talk to my commanders in the field, when...

Sen. George Allen said Sunday that last week's vote on the Iraqi constitution shows that the U.S. is making "great progress" in the war on terror - contrary to claims of Bush administration critics who say the White House has no plan for success in Iraq. "There has just been a monumental benchmark achieved," Allen told NBC's "Meet the Press." "Now, they're still counting the votes, but it appears that the people of Iraq, in stronger numbers that even in January of this year, have come out and voted for this constitution. The Virginia Republican noted that the Iraq constitution...

Indications crucial Iraqi province leaning toward 'yes' vote Sunni-majority provinces play major role in fate of draft constitution Saturday, October 22, 2005; Posted: 1:18 p.m. EDT (17:18 GMT) BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Voters in Diyala province -- the district north of Baghdad with a majority Sunni Arab population -- are backing the country's draft constitution, according to early figures released from last week's referendum on the law. This is a significant development because of the Sunni Arab opposition to the proposed constitution, and a good sign for those who support the legal document, which has widespread backing from Shiites and...

Volume 011, Issue 07 When Iraqis went to the polls, the best news was what didn't happen. Baghdad I WAS IN BAQUBA during Iraq's January elections, having hitched a ride with the U.S. Army to a polling site. There were bombs exploding, mortars falling, and hot machine guns. The fact that the voting was going great despite the violence was something few people expected. Until that day, I'd been skeptical about Iraq. Not fashionably cynical, merely skeptical. We could all hear what President Bush, Prime Minister Blair, and other elected leaders were saying, but they are politicians. We also could...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Electoral Commission said Saturday that no significant fraud had been found in Iraq's landmark constitutional referendum, while experts pored over votes to ensure no irregularities occurred in a key province that could determine the final outcome. The commission released partial figures from 13 of Iraq's 18 provinces, but the audit of votes in the northwestern province of Ninevah meant the final outcome from the Oct. 15 referendum would not be made public before Monday or Tuesday. The audit, which began Saturday in Ninevah and was wrapping up in three other provinces, was ordered after unusually high...

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Members of 2d Marine Division and Iraqi security forces wrapped up security operations Oct. 16 in support of the Constitutional Referendum in al Anbar Province. The voter turnout in the province was far better than what it was during the national elections held last January, with more than 100,000 eligible voters participating in the process. “I am extremely pleased with the role 2d Marine Division and our partners in the Iraqi security forces played in helping to provide a safe and secure environment for the citizens of al Anbar to go to the polls,” said 2d Marine...

Iraq's constitutional referendum last week went better than anticipated, given the daily violence in the areas of the country dominated by the Sunni majority. Unofficial results indicate Iraqis voted heavily in favour of adopting the new constitution. The results of last January's election are vindicated as Iraqis now prepare for parliamentary elections scheduled for Dec. 15, and the making of a new government for a free and democratic Iraq. Last month in this space, I predicted a favourable outcome for the Oct. 15 vote. The reasoning was simple. I suggested since half the voting population are women they would vote...

I may have missed it; but I think the MSM just glossed over it; but has anyone seen the final count on the Iraq Constitution? I believe it had to have passed or the MSM would have painted the world with the news of it's failure; but I haven't seen anything? Anyone have any information?

Iraqi men and women come to polling places to cast their vote on the constitutional referendum. Scenes include men and women walking to the polling places, people walking out of the polling places, guards at the polling places, men and women dipping their finger in ink, men and women placing their ballots in the box, men and women getting their ballots. Watch Video

Big week for Uncle Sam. First, there was the referendum on the new Iraqi constitution, which, by the way, contains all provisions necessary for a sharia-ruled state. Then, at the president's by-now-annual Ramadan dinner, President Bush announced, "For the first time in our nation's history, we have added a Koran to the White House Library." Anything wrong with this undoubtedly historic picture? Freedom marches on in Iraq, and tolerance expands its reach at home, or so they say. But I would put it this way: Democracy marches on in Iraq, and the Koran expands its reach at home. Same thing?...

On Saturday, millions of Iraqis walked with determination to the polls to vote for a new constitution. The turnout was high. The violence was down dramatically from the triumphant elections of January. But the network found all this boring. On the night before the historic vote, ABC led with bird-flu panic. CBS imagined Karl Rove in a prison jumpsuit. NBC hyped inflation. They say that news is a man-bites-dog story. In the Middle East, how common is a constitutional referendum? Have they had one in Egypt? Saudi Arabia? Syria? Jordan? Until the last few years, the phrase "Arab constitutional democracy"...

Tolerating the Iraqi ConstitutionBy Lisa Fabrizio Published 10/19/2005 12:06:25 AM The look on Dick Durbin's face said it all. Involuntary muscles drew down the sides of his mouth as he attempted a forced smile but succeeded in producing only a grimace. The occasion was the appearance of the Democratic Senator on Fox News Sunday to discuss the Iraq constitutional referendum. As always, the latest good news from Iraq sits like a large lump in the throats of the president's enemies. After pooh-poohing the historic voter turnout across Iraq, Durbin -- who has compared U.S. treatment of Gitmo prisoners with that...

The bishops of Iraq look set to beg the Pope to make one last plea for democracy as the early results of the country's constitution sparked dismay among Christians. The news service of the charity Aid to the Church in Need reports that with early indications following Saturday's referendum pointing to majority support for Iraq's draft permanent constitution, the bishops remain fearful that the country is one step closer to becoming an Islamic state intolerant to non-Muslims. Last month, the Patriarch of Baghdad of the Chaldeans, Emmanuel III Delly, met the President and Prime Minister of Iraq to spell out...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Oct. 18, 2005 ) -- Marines from throughout 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) put their regularly duties on hold and took an active role in safely transporting Iraqi poll workers during the Iraqi Constitution referendum. Operation Liberty Express ended Oct. 18, as the successful Iraqi poll workers and the cast ballots flew out of Al Asad, Iraq, and into history. The Marines, who spent days and nights making sure the vote was able to happen safely were finally able to get some rest. “First couple of nights we worked for 18 straight hours,” said Staff Sgt. William...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Oct. 18, 2005 ) -- As statues of Saddam Hussein fell across Iraq, he watched from a television, safe in Glendale, Ariz. Then, he volunteered his safety and freedom to serve with the Marines in Iraq and to help bring freedom and democracy to his homeland. Gaby Biroutta, an interpreter with 1st Brigade Service Support Group, has been in Iraq for more than seven months, bridging the crucial communication gap between Marines and the citizens of Iraq. Biroutta, an Assyrian Christian whose family fled Iraq while Saddam’s regime was in power, speaks English, Arabic, Assyrian, Armenic, Kurdish...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Final results from Iraq's landmark referendum on a new constitution will likely not be announced until Friday at the earliest because of delays getting counts to the capital and a wide-ranging audit of an unexpectedly high number of "yes" votes, election officials said. The returns have raised questions over the possibility of irregularities in the balloting. With the delays, the outcome of the crucial referendum will remain up in the air possibly into next week, at a time when the government had hoped to move public attention to a new milestone: the start of the trial of...