Terry Everett, April 18, 2005

Last week marked the second anniversary of the fall of Baghdad and the end of the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein. While the process of achieving democracy in a country that has known only terror, repression, and neglect for decades is not an easy one, real progress is being made toward self-rule and stability. For the first time in a generation, Iraqis have hope for their future. Their actions will reverberate across the Middle East.

Speaking on April 12 about the courage of the Iraqi people as they forge a democratic nation, President Bush recalled the story of Abdul Amir, a young Iraqi policeman who stood up to terrorists during the historic January elections and sacrificed his life so that ordinary Iraqis could safely go vote. "On election day, Amir noticed a suspicious man walking toward a line of voters at a Baghdad polling station. With complete disregard for his own safety, he threw his arms around the man and dragged him into a nearby intersection, where the man detonated the belt of explosives that was wrapped around his body. Amir took the brunt of the blast, giving his life to save scores of innocent civilians."

Those January elections that brave Iraqis like Amir valued so much were both historic and inspiring. Proving wrong the naysayers who predicted the people would stay home on election day, eight and a half million proud Iraqis said "no" to terrorism and stood in line to cast their ballots. As a result, the vote was a success and the work of installing and developing Iraq's infant democracy, including the drafting of a new constitution, has begun in earnest. As Iraq's new president, Jalal Talabani, recently noted, "After 50 years of political struggle against discrimination and dictatorship, this is a grand honor and a humbling moment."

Self government also extends to self protection and Iraqis are increasingly involved in public service. As President Bush pointed out last week, today the number of Iraqis in the nation's army, police and security forces outnumber U.S. military personnel in that country. Over 152,000 Iraqi personnel wear a uniform with many now handling duties previously performed by the Coalition, including patrolling Baghdad's hot spots and portions of Fallujah, Mosul, and Saddam's hometown of Tikrit.

Iraqi president Talabani noted that his nation will not tolerate violent acts of terrorism. "The attacks on election officials, the suicide bombings of voters, the cowardly attacks on brave Iraqis waiting in line to join our fledgling security forces are not the tactics of 'resistance' or 'freedom fighters' but of murderers and criminals."

Iraqis are also helping reestablish local law and order with 55,862 trained and equipped police and highway patrolmen, and nearly 30,000 civil intervention forces, border police, and police commandoes on guard. New Iraqi security personnel are entering active duty at a rate of 1,500 to 3,000 a week despite terrorist attacks on recruiting facilities and police stations.

No doubt the recent successful elections, coupled with Iraq's growing security forces, are driving terrorists to desperation as they see their influence waning. Much work lies ahead for Iraqis and the Coalition before Iraq is a stable bulwark of freedom and democracy in the Middle East. But it is clearer than ever that Iraqis are taking charge of their future, and that is good news indeed.

Congressman Terry Everett, a Republican, represents Alabama's Second Congressional District, which includes the state capitol, Montgomery.