Muslim imam quotes Martin Luther King, Jr.
With polls set to open in Iraq in less than three hours, FoxNews just broadcast a clip of this Iraqi imam in the United States preaching to his congregation.



In the clip, al-Husainy first thanked God for freedom and for the right to vote. Then he quoted that famous line from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s most famous speech. "Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, we're free at last!"

I'm going to put on my Amazing Karnak hat and make two predictions:

1. The terrorist attempts to break up the election won't do so and will be actually less violent than expected. In fact, I predict that election day will be a bonanza day for suppressing the terrorists through capture or counterattack.

2. When the above becomes known among Iraqis, Sunday evening and Monday will bring forth the most widespread celebrations among the Iraqi people seen since the downfall of Saddam. There will be dancing in the streets and brief period in which these newly liberated people will be drunk on democracy, for a day or two anyway.

I know I'm out on a limb, and if anyone thinks I am engaging in wishful predictions, I plead guilty. But I still think this will be so.

Update: Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz in Baghdad was asked by Geraldo Rivera in this interview today (just broadcast), Do you expect to see an elevated level of violence from the insurgents tomorrow?

Lt. Gen. Metz answered, "Not really," and went on to explain that the focus of US and Iraqi security forces has been neutralizing the terrorists' ability to attack the elections.

Update, Sunday a.m.: With polls just closed, I claim validation in these predictions, except for the "bonanza" day against the terrorists - who certainly did not enjoy a bonanza against democracy, either..

by Donald Sensing, 1/29/2005 07:15:51 PM. Permalink |