Iraq’s Progress toward Democracy

One year ago, the only law governing Iraq was the whim and desire of a ruthless dictator, Saddam Hussein. Thanks to the coalition led by the United States, Iraqis no longer live in fear. Torture chambers have been closed. Of the 55 officials wanted from the former regime, 46 have been captured or killed. Saddam Hussein is in prison awaiting trial. President George W. Bush states that now the United States and its coalition partners are assisting the people of Iraq in their daily progress toward democracy. Today, our coalition is working with the Iraqi Governing Council to draft a constitution that includes civil rights for all people. We are working with Iraqis at the United Nations to prepare for the complete transfer of sovereignty to the people of Iraq. According to the timeline, power is set to be transferred to a provisional government on June 30. Discussions are ongoing to determine the best way to do this, whether indirectly or directly. However, even before a decision is made on how to elect a provisional government, Iraqis are voting in local elections to select members of city councils. This is taking place in the Dhi Qar province, over 400 kilometers southeast of Baghdad. There, Iraqis are voting for the first time in free elections for their preferred candidates. Naeem Aboud, one of the judges overseeing the elections, states that every voter must have an identification card, as the law requires. According to another law, each person can only vote once. In Fuhud, a man attempted to vote twice, once for himself and once on behalf of his wife. He told the judges that his wife had to stay home to take care of the children. The response he received was to go home, stay with the children, and ask his wife to come and vote in person. When the votes were counted in Fuhud, the winner was Zaki Hanoun, a former exile. He fled Iraq in 1999 and returned after the fall of Saddam Hussein, stating: 'This is the first step toward democracy. A great example for other provinces in Iraq.'