Victory day in Iraq

It was a historic election day in Mosul, the third largest city in the north of the country, where there is a mixed Sunni, Shiite, Kurdish, and Christian population and where the insurgency has been strong. Voter turnout went much better than expected.
It was an emotional day for us all. I voted along with members of my family. Thank God for the opportunity to choose a new leadership. Most men and women of Iraq want only safety for their families, and a chance to raise their children without fear, with free choice to pursue their education and life without the threat of persecution from the government.
I am moved beyond words. People turned out not only under the present threat to polling stations, but also under future threats to themselves and their families. A majority of the people in Iraq, who were armed only with faith and hope, voted under the very real threat of being blown to pieces. Even children came with their parents to see this strange event take place. This is true patriotism, and bravery, not the actions of miserable insurgents that want to stop the people from gaining freedom.
Mosul's mayor was overcome with emotion by the turnout of voters at city centers, where he was seen shaking hands with many people who were celebrating their first time in life having a choice of leadership. This is a vote for the future, for our children, for the rule of law, for humanity. Some people debated the wisdom of using blue ink on the finger on such a day. While some people in more safe areas see the blue finger as a symbol of freedom. Others felt that they may be targeted for being caught blue-handed as it were, in the areas targeted by the insurgents.
Election Day should send a strong message to the terrorists that Iraqis want their country back. The result will be a government shaped by a majority of the Iraqi people, not by a minority, nor by foreign powers. No one ever expected that Iraqis would be able to modify the only way of living that they knew in the past.
My people know that the real meaning of Islam does not oppose democracy, because it is the real spirit of Islam is to make every one choose his leader. My wife and I went to a poll station with the feeling that we are following our religious commandment. These are some of the things I saw on the way to the polling station. One man said, "We want to be like other Iraqis, we don't want to always be in opposition." Another man, who was healing from surgery, insisted on coming to the voting center, even though he was on a stretcher. A lady gave birth suddenly because of the excitement and tension, in a school turned into a voting center.
There is hope that life is improving. There have been many recent successes against the terrorists. The Iraqi people are helping the Iraqi police and the multinational forces find and capture insurgents. Our determination is strengthened every day.