The (other) election

We're now a few hours away from the 'first free' national election in Iraq in over 50 years. Roadside bombings and attacks on Iraqi police, politicians, candidates, and poll workers are continuing, right up to the elections. Insurgents have threatened to kill Iraqis going to the polls. Similar attacks on US troops also continue. As of this morning, since hostilities started almost 2 years ago, our troops have suffered over 1400 deaths. Estimates of deaths of Iraqi soldiers and civilians, and of the various groups that make up the insurgency, are ranging closer to 200,000.

Will enough Iraqis go to the polls for the election to be considered legitimate in spite of the threats? If this happens will the various groups now fighting back realize that it's folly to continue and cease the relentless attacks? I truly hope so. We as a country have made a collosal mistake by the invasion and war. First it was in the name of protecting ourselves and other countries from WMD. Then it was because Saddam Hussein and Iraq harbored Al Qaeda (sure, they're there now but there has been no credible evidence that they were then). Now it's in the name of ending terrorism and bringing freedom and democracy to the world. The ~$200 billion spent to date is only a down payment. Our only exit strategy is to try to put all the pieces back together and give back some semblance of a country to the Iraqis. The election is a necessary part of this strategy.

However it all plays out, our country's involvement is and will remain for years a tremendous challenge, one I don't feel we can afford yet one we cannot now abandon.