Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2005 6:32 AM
To:
Subject: Good morning from world's newest democracy - Iraq

All,

It is now 1430 on Sunday afternoon on the day that all Iraqis, and the rest of the world for that matter, have been waiting for since the liberation of Iraq in April of 2003. The polls will be closing around the country at 1700 local time - 0900 EST - and the hourly reports that I have been receiving from our Iraqi partners and friends, who are on the streets of Baghdad and the surrounding areas, have been nothing short of amazing in light of the extreme adversity the Iraqi people have faced for the past 19 months. Every report so far has confirmed that the turnout is high and the overall feeling amongst the voters is very positive and I thought that I would just bang out a quick e-mail and give you an idea of what is going on here because we all know that some in the media will try and down play this historic event as they would hate to give the Iraqi people and President Bush a victory on this one.

As you are no doubt are aware, the insurgents have stepped up their media and bombing campaign over the past month or so in order to intimidate the Iraqis from voting. One of the advantages of living here is that you can deal with the "locals" so it is easy to determine whether some in the media relaying the correct story or not. (Most of the time I just shake my head when I read and see some of the stuff that is put out there as I have no idea where some of these reporters are able to come up with this stuff.) One of the recent media "blitzes" has been to point out that, because of the terror campaign waged by the insurgents, the Iraqis are too terrified and as such voter turn out will be low. Granted, the Iraqis are terrified, as any normal human being would be, to have to walk from home and vote and walk back again knowing full well that they face the possibility of car bombings, small arms fire, etc., along the way. (All of which we have had today, BTW.)

I usually set the alarm for 0600 so I can start the day early, however, last night when I went to bed at 0230, I knew that no alarm would be needed today. (OK, so the first bomb did not go off until 0620...) My first report came in at 0700 and I was told that most of the voting places (VPs) were empty. I then had two more reports at 0800 and 0815 that the numbers were picking up and lines were beginning to form at some of the VPs. Then, unfortunately, around 0835 the first of no less than 10 explosions went off all around the city. (Several were close to the house as evidenced by the attached two pictures.) The explosions continued to rock the city for another 45 minutes or so and then faded away. Since that first barrage this morning there have been sporadic bangs and booms throughout the city. (The consensus was that the insurgents would strike early and hard in order to set the tone for the day and force voters to stay indoors.) The reports started coming in again around 1030 and I could not believe what I was being told. To wit:

1. The bombings have actually had the reverse effect and have drawn more voters to the polls.

2. A large percentage of the voters have been women.

3. The VPs are almost like a mini celebration with people dancing and waving their blue finger - proof that they have voted - around proudly for all to see.

4. As the day has worn on the numbers of voters is picking up rapidly.

5. The mood of the people is very positive.

6. The men, women and their children are kissing, hugging and shaking the hands of any American solider that they can find.

Since I have been in Iraq, I have made many friends and have always been impressed with the people and their resilient nature. However, nothing could have prepared me for what has happened today in this country. Many in the media have written Iraq off a little too soon I would say... There are many long days ahead for this great country and its people as they are only now taken the first of many steps on the road toward a true democracy. However, today proved that the Iraqi people are capable of taking these steps and I am thankful to be here and see it unfold and I thank all of you for your support.

Best regards,