Jan. 31, 6:50 p.m.: Pragmatic thoughts on the Iraqi vote

A national vote with promise and limitations.

By: Hank Kalet
   Here are some thoughts on the historic election in Iraq that I think put the vote in perspective and add a layer of pragmatism to a discussion that has been occurring on a surreal plane these days:
   • Bob Herbert reminds us that no matter the final vote tally, the people of Iraq showed us just how strong and courageous they are.
   • Salim Lone — former director of communications for Sergio Vieira de Mello, the U.N. special representative killed in Iraq in August 2003 — explains the flaws in the vote this way in The Guardian (U.K.): "the election fell so completely short of accepted electoral standards that had it been held in, say, Zimbabwe or Syria, Britain and America would have been the first to denounce it."
   • William Pfaff explains why the only way to bring piece to Iraq is for American and coalition forces to leave.
• Historian Juan Cole cautions already overly optimistic Americans — like those in the cheerleader press corps — from making the Iraq vote into more than it really is.