Iraqi elections

While the country is in the midst of a guerrilla war the population still managed a ~57% turnout, basically whipping our ass with our pathetic 41% last presidential election. Even though it was the first multi-party election in 50 years, it was still far from a model for other countries. Vehicle traffic was banned, security checkpoints were everywhere, 44 people died, and many polling stations - predominately in Sunni areas - were empty. Additionally, all candidates save for a handful of famous ones were anonymous from the party lists voters chose from.

Absent from the mainstream cheerleading press were reminders that left up to Bush, these elections would of never occurred. The administration only gave in after the most highly revered Shi'a cleric in Iraq, Ali Sistani, issued a fatwa demanding free elections. Demonstrations of thousands of Iraqis broke out across the country and after months of trying to ignore and sidestep popular sentiment, the exiled elites hand-picked to institute the administration's original plans of basically a puppet government refused to play along any further. Still the administration claimed elections were impossible and stated only an indirect one with US approved candidates would do. Sistani again demanded full, free elections and nation-wide demonstrations ensued once more. Finally the administration approved the UN designed election plan, but only with our own guy as interim Prime Minister and elections held _after_ the November US presidential elections. Nevertheless, Sistani lobbied the UN for allowing the future Iraqi government the ability to nullify US drafted transitional law and issued another fatwa stating it was a religious duty to vote in the elections.

There are still many decisive and dividing issues facing the new government, like how large a part religion will play in the new constitution. But hopefully this will be the start of an improvement and all those who braved the violence to go to the polls didn't do so in vain. I would not put any money on a peaceful Iraq just yet though since, among many other issues, very few Sunnis (approximately 40% of the population) chose not to or were unable to vote.
Thanks to Dr. Cole for some helpful, informed comments.