.Obama’s Victory Came as a Surprise to Many Iraqis
“Congratulations. American democracy really does work,” my Iraqi friend told me as soon as he saw me today. As I said in another post, many of my Iraqi friends didn’t think Barack Obama could win, despite his lead in the polls, because Americans were too racist. “Everyone suspected that he would be stopped in the end,” my friend said. Another Iraqi friend, who was rooting for Sen. Obama, told me that he and everyone he knew was surprised at the result because they thought John McCain would win in the end.<
The U.S. embassy used the elections as the reason to have its first official function at the new embassy in Baghdad. Security was tight around the compound and dozens of private security personnel stood outside the embassy area. Inside, a projector displayed the latest elections news from CNN on a wall, and information sheets on the two presidential candidates and other information about the American electoral process lined a table. In the back of the room was a gigantic cake.
U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker told the crowd of Iraqi officials, journalists and others that the elections marked the historic occasion of the first African-American elected to the U.S. presidency. But Mr. Crocker also emphasized the democratic traditions that were represented in the U.S. race. Mr. Obama’s win marked the 44th peaceful transition of power in the U.S. and the 22nd time a new political party was taking over the presidency through democratic means, Mr. Crocker said.
Mr. Crocker then cited an excerpt from Mr. Obama’s victory speech: “To those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.”
The ambassador said he couldn’t think of a place where Mr. Obama’s words were more important than in Iraq, where two elections are scheduled to take place next year. Some U.S. officials have expressed concern that politically killings will rise because of the two elections, one for provincial council seats and the other for national offices. “Our elected leaders may change but our loyalty to our nation remains steadfast,” Mr. Crocker said.
With several Iraqi officials such as Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh in attendance, Mr. Crocker closed his speech by reminding guests that President George W. Bush was still leader of the U.S. for another two and a half months. Aware that the security agreement negotiations between the U.S. and Iraq were on the minds of many people in the audience, Mr. Crocker told the crowd that there would be a continuation of “policy and purpose” as the U.S. moved through the transition of power to an Obama administration.
Baghdad Life
I know this story is late, but it says the US embassy in Iraq is open! First I had heard of it.
The U.S. embassy used the elections as the reason to have its first official function at the new embassy in Baghdad. Security was tight around the compound and dozens of private security personnel stood outside the embassy area. Inside, a projector displayed the latest elections news from CNN on a wall, and information sheets on the two presidential candidates and other information about the American electoral process lined a table. In the back of the room was a gigantic cake.
U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker told the crowd of Iraqi officials, journalists and others that the elections marked the historic occasion of the first African-American elected to the U.S. presidency. But Mr. Crocker also emphasized the democratic traditions that were represented in the U.S. race. Mr. Obama’s win marked the 44th peaceful transition of power in the U.S. and the 22nd time a new political party was taking over the presidency through democratic means, Mr. Crocker said.
Mr. Crocker then cited an excerpt from Mr. Obama’s victory speech: “To those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.”
The ambassador said he couldn’t think of a place where Mr. Obama’s words were more important than in Iraq, where two elections are scheduled to take place next year. Some U.S. officials have expressed concern that politically killings will rise because of the two elections, one for provincial council seats and the other for national offices. “Our elected leaders may change but our loyalty to our nation remains steadfast,” Mr. Crocker said.
With several Iraqi officials such as Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh in attendance, Mr. Crocker closed his speech by reminding guests that President George W. Bush was still leader of the U.S. for another two and a half months. Aware that the security agreement negotiations between the U.S. and Iraq were on the minds of many people in the audience, Mr. Crocker told the crowd that there would be a continuation of “policy and purpose” as the U.S. moved through the transition of power to an Obama administration.
Baghdad Life
I know this story is late, but it says the US embassy in Iraq is open! First I had heard of it.
posted by madtom at 8:23 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home