One step towards success...

Wow... that went a lot better than I thought it would.

However, not that I am trying to rain on the parade, but as my title suggests this is only one step down the path towards success in Iraq (success is probably most reasonably defined as getting out within 3-5 years without leaving the country in civil war). It is important to see what the outcome is: Are the Sunnis going to be represented in an appropriate fashion? If not, is the US going to step in an add some as the hinted at a month or two ago? What sort of constitution will they write? Are the local governments going to be able to begin to take care of some of the problems in the neighborhoods (sewage, etc.)?

This event is certainly worth a "Whew!" but it is important to remember the questions above and the fact that they aren't going to get answered today.

Update: James Wolcott is a little less circumspect on the matter:

What I dread is how this day will be used by the new centurions. The Iranian blogger Hoder, with whom I had the pleasure to lunch when he visited New York (something I haven't mentioned previously, for worry it would ruin his rep and get him de-linked by certain sulky bloggers), sensibly, succinctly observes today, "On the one hand I'm really excited that Iraqi people have been able to start the path to a potentially democratic political system, on the other hand I'm really upset that this will embolden neoconservatives and will be seen as a confirmation of their dangerous plans for the world."

The Iraqization of Iraq, the democratization of Iran--it's all part of the same endless, widening bombing run.

Yeah, that's another way of looking it...

Update: The NY Times has a good editorial up...

Update: Bob Herbert says:

A real democracy requires an informed electorate. What we saw yesterday was an uncommonly brave electorate. But it was woefully uninformed.

Well, if we define a "real democracy" like the way it works here, then I think that Iraq has hit the mark.