By Salena Zito
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, December 11, 2005


Iraq is under siege. And, for a moment, it has nothing to do with "insurgents," Saddam meltdowns or weak-kneed U.S. politicians.

This siege is one that your average American is pretty familiar with: that mentally fatiguing final week leading to Election Day.

Iraq resembles a targeted swing state; sophisticated media have taken hold. Savvy radio and television commercials bear a striking similarity to those produced here; political consultants are even advising campaigns on media saturation and how to react to developments.

With campaign signs plastering every vertical surface available, the only thing missing is James Carville or Karl Rove huddled around some candidate in the stretch.

Not too bad for a country that is basically 32 months old.

We need to lay off the negative media-juice and think about this: 32 months ago, the statue of Saddam Hussein came down. Not 32 years ago, not 32 decades ago -- 32 months ago.

Since that statue-toppling day, Iraq has shifted light-years away from a crushing dictatorship -- a brutal regime that suspended or perverted every institution of national life. No real political or judicial system existed.

If the significance of that does not resonate yet, consider this: Iraqis have held an election, drafted a constitution, ratified it and, on Thursday, will hold another election to set up a permanent government.

All accomplished in 32 months.

All under the constant threat of violence.

Next time you consider not voting because it's inconvenient, remember the courage of the Iraqis.

As deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Ambassador David Satterfield has a front-row seat to this birth of democracy. He told me in a telephone interview from Baghdad that he anticipates an "extremely broad" turnout at the polls, including Sunnis.

"Unlike the election in January, when the Sunni community almost completely boycotted the election, Sunnis now show a growing desire to participate in the political process," he said.

"Iraqis, like Americans, need an inclusive, participatory political process, and that is exactly what has been developing here."

With Sunnis now peacefully taking part, democracy is moving forward.

Political debate inside the Beltway has kept the average American unaware of the progress in Iraq. And time has dulled our recollection of our own struggle toward a democratic republic.

We've forgotten our fights over the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution, the Whiskey Rebellion and that messy little War of 1812.

And the Civil War? That stain on our history reverberates to this day.

Similarities between our founding patriots and the Iraqis are not lost upon Satterfield:

"The terrorists' outrages have had no effect on the ability of the Iraqi security services to recruit and they have no effect on people willing to serve in government."

Iraqis continue to move forward, he insists, just as our own patriots did, with a stiff spine and a strong resolve.

Yet politics has buried the successes in Iraq. John Kerry is the perfect example of a verbal bomb-thrower. We expect the inane from Howard Dean, but Kerry should just plain know better.

Once again, we are knee-deep in negativity. But a positive movement is afoot and it will be interesting to see if our nation buys into its simple message.

A grassroots organization -- Purple Finger for Freedom -- is encouraging solidarity with Iraqis by asking Americans to sport a purple finger, imitating the ink stains used to mark voters who brave the gunfire and other dangers in that beleaguered country.

Ambassador Satterfield appreciates the gesture. "I think any recognition by the American people of the courage and commitment of Iraqis to the democratic process is a very welcome thing."

On Thursday, Iraq's Election Day, we should consider the successes there -- one finger at a time.


Salena Zito is a Trib editorial page columnist.


I tell you, the more I read of Salena's stuff, the more I like.