Good News for Iraq and the President

It was a triumphant day in Iraq. How did American and world media view the first exercise of democracy in Iraq in 50 years? It is difficult to imagine a more positive day of news for President Bush and for the advance of freedom. Here are selected headlines and leads (note that the only news outlet to lead with the violence is the New York Times):



New York Times:



Attacks Kill 35; Turnout Heavy Among Shiites and Kurds



BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 30 - Defying death threats, mortars and suicide bombers, Iraqis turned out in great numbers on Sunday to vote in this country's first free elections in 50 years, offering a powerful, if uneven, endorsement of democratic rule 22 months after Saddam Hussein was overthrown.



Bush Hails Iraqi Vote, but Warns of More Fighting Ahead



WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 - Just short of two years after engineering the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, President Bush on Sunday celebrated a comparatively peaceful day of voting in Iraq, declaring it a triumphant moment in his effort to spur democratic movements throughout the Middle East.

"The people of Iraq have spoken to the world, and the world is hearing the voice of freedom from the center of the Middle East," Mr. Bush said in a four-minute televised statement at 1 p.m. from the entry hall of the White House residence, after the polls closed in Iraq.



Washington Post



Iraqis Defy Threats as Millions Vote



Mood Is Festive; Turnout Appears Strong Despite Deadly Attacks

BAGHDAD, Jan. 30 -- Millions of Iraqis turned out Sunday to cast ballots in the country's first free elections in a half-century, the ranks of voters surging as attacks by insurgents proved less ferocious than feared and enthusiasm spilled over into largely Sunni Arab regions where hardly a campaign poster had appeared.



Fox News



Allawi: Election Proves Terrorists Can't Win



BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's interim leader called on his countrymen to set aside their differences Monday while jubilant Iraqis sifted through ballots, tallying the results of a vote that millions hoped would restore democracy for the first time in a half-century and lead to the departure of 150,000 American troops



CNN



Iraq: Time for unity, says Allawi

Bush, other world leaders hail Iraq election



BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi has urged Iraqis to unite after a national election hailed worldwide which he said had defeated those seeking power through violence.



Los Angeles Times



Iraqi Turnout Trumps Violence

Millions Vote Despite Deadly Attacks and Threats; Bush Hails Outcome as 'Resounding Success'



BAGHDAD — Millions of Iraqis defied violence, calls for a boycott and a legacy of despotism to cast ballots Sunday in the nation's first multiparty elections in half a century.



Arab Media

Overwhelmingly, Arab channels and newspapers Arab channels and newspapers greeted the elections as a critical event with major implications for the region, and many put significant resources into reporting on the voting, providing blanket coverage throughout the country that started about a week ago. Newspapers kept wide swaths of their pages open, and the satellite channels dedicated most of the day to coverage of the polls.



Agence France-Presse.



Iraqis defy attacks to make strong turnout in landmark election



(31/01/2005)

BAGHDAD (AFP) Voters turned out in surprisingly high numbers for Iraq's first free election in half a century, defying insurgents who unleashed suicide bombers and mortar attacks that killed at least 37 people.US President George W. Bush, who ordered the controversial war to topple Saddam Hussein 22 months ago, congratulated the people of Iraq on "this great and historic achievement" but cautioned more hard work remains to turn the war-weary state into a democracy.



BBC



World leaders praise Iraqi poll



World leaders have praised the conduct of Iraq's first multi-party elections for more than 50 years.



President Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair - the leaders of the two nations which led the invasion of Iraq - hailed them as a resounding success. And UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Iraqis should be encouraged to take control of their own future. After what officials said was a higher turnout than expected, the next few days will be spent counting votes.



China Daily (Beijing)



Millions of Iraqis vote; attacks kill 35



(Agencies)Updated: 2005-01-31 09:17

Millions of Iraqis flocked to vote in a historic election on Sunday, defying insurgents who killed 35 people in a bloody assault on the poll. Voters, some ululating with joy, others hiding their faces in fear, cast ballots in higher-than-expected numbers in Iraq's first multi-party election in half a century.



Moscow Times



Elections in Iraq are 'positive event' - Putin



Monday, Jan. 31, 2005, 2:06 PM Moscow Time

MOSCOW. Jan 31 (Interfax) - President Vladimir Putin has welcomed the parliamentary elections in Iraq. "This is a step in the right direction. This is a positive event," Putin said at a Monday government meeting. Putin instructed "all Russian departments to assist normalization inside and outside Iraq and to protect Russian interests in that country."



Elections in Iraq profanation - Gorbachev



Monday, Jan. 31, 2005, 2:06 PM Moscow Time

MOSCOW. Jan 31 (Interfax) - Former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev said the Iraqi parliamentary elections cannot be viewed as legitimate. "What we were observing in Iraq on Sunday, as well as preparations preceding the elections, is very far from what true elections are. And even though I am a supporter of elections and of the transfer of power to the people of Iraq, these elections were fake," Gorbachev told Interfax on Monday. "I don't think these elections will be of any use. They may even have a negative impact on the country. Democracy cannot be imposed or strengthened with guns and tanks," the former Soviet leader said







--James Jewell