Purple finger day

In honour of today's Iraqi elections, all posts today will be in purple type (except for direct quotes -- those will be contrasted).
The courage of the Iraqi people is not to be denied.
The lack of courage of large segments of the international community, including most Democrats here in the U.S. of A., is appalling when compared to the resoluteness of the Iraqis.
They face a helluva lot more danger in trekking to the polls than we ever have. Yet they will... and they are... despite the naysaying nattering nabobs of negativism (sorry, Spiro T Agnew, you crook!).
To those who doubted them... and who doubt the many real successes we have had in Iraq, I offer (via JimmyB) the words of Betty Dawisha, who has cast her ballot...
"Anybody who doesn’t appreciate what America has done and President Bush, let them go to hell."
Our prayers are with you all on this adventure into freedom.