Thanks to America, democracy or something approaching it is sweeping the Muslim world.

Not having written much about Iraq since the fall of Baghdad and Saddam’s famous statue, the historic occasion of Iraq’s first democratic election in fifty years seemed like a good place to pick up. For the two events share almost equal significance as harbingers of things to come.

Thanks to America, democracy or something approaching it is sweeping the Muslim world and now that Afghanistan and Iraq have entered the fray, others are likely to follow. It’s hard to imagine that the people of this region will be content with their current state of subjugation in the face of emerging democracies in the neighborhood. This was indeed the strategy of the so-called neocons and of President Bush, who, as outlined again in his inaugural address, hoped to create a democratic domino effect in the Islamic world. And judging by the results so far, it looks as if they were right. For those who supported this approach all along and held strong in the face of countless obstacles, the week’s momentous events have been a just reward.

Of course, those who were against the war in Iraq are unlikely to admit to success, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. Having placed themselves in the untenable position of opposing whatever President Bush puts forward, they have now been reduced to arguing against freedom. Talk about pitiful. The once mighty classic liberals now find themselves, in effect, on the same side as tyrants and terrorists. Despite all their talk about the poor, beleaguered Iraqi people, their current disdain towards the freedom of said people exposes their true cynicism. If not for President Bush ousting Iraq’s former dictator and encouraging Iraqis towards self-determination, they would still be under the boot of Saddam Hussein, where apparently some would still prefer them.

With terrorist leader al-Zarqawi’s insistence on declaring democracy in Iraq heresy and promoting a Sharia-ruled Islamic state instead, the contrast between good and evil (or for the moral relativists, freedom and tyranny) couldn’t be any clearer. And yet, the quagmire chorus has stuck to their script throughout it all, not even pausing to commemorate the momentous election that just took place. To the “anti-war” crowd, that millions of Iraqis bravely risked their lives to cast their votes was simply meaningless — another bump in the road in their quest to defeat President Bush and by extension, American success in the world.

The sacrifices and bravery of the U.S. military in making this a reality was also dismissed. The only time American soldiers are brought up by the Left is when they can be used as “victims” to push their political agenda. The constant references to casualties are really just another way to undermine public support for the war. Trying desperately to relive their Vietnam victory, where the Left and the media succeeded in sabotaging the war effort, the current crowd will stop at nothing to achieve their ends. Even if it means becoming shills for terrorists.

When it comes to the mainstream media, little has changed. The media naysayers were forced to stop their doomsday election countdown for one day, but they appear to be switching to the next set of defeatist talking points as we speak.

First there were the grudging reports of election success, followed by a “but violence is still an issue” caveat. One-upping Al-Jazeera in being a willing propaganda tool of terrorists, the Western media was eager to give credence to claims that a video purporting to show “insurgents” shooting down a British transport plane was authentic. Despite the shoddy and obviously manipulative editing, they seemed eager to accord the tape legitimacy. Any opportunity to give the terrorists — or, rather “freedom fighters” — a victory.

Perhaps hoping for the sectarian violence that has so far eluded them, the media has been playing up the Shiite vs. Sunnis angle. Suddenly the Sunnis’ biggest fans are Western journalists who are disproportionately concerned with the group’s future. Never mind that the Sunnis had only to take part in the election to be accorded the same rights as everyone else, they’ve been dubbed the new “oppressed Iraqi minority.” Meanwhile, Shiite jubilation in the wake of the election has been reported in a consistently menacing fashion. Although Shiite leader Ayatollah al-Sistani has repeatedly stated his intention to avoid a theocracy, the media seems certain that’s what he’s really planning.

The Democrats, who just days before the election sent out their “stars” Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Barbara Boxer, et al, to do as much damage to the war effort as possible, instantly resumed their craven calls for the troops to withdraw immediately. Considering the fact that they’ve been calling for the troops to leave since the day they arrived, this is nothing new. And the babbling on about “exit strategies” is just more of the same. Suddenly, cowardice is all the rage and resolve a passing fancy. Things have gotten pretty desperate when a political party’s platform is based on how quickly they can cut and run.

With such leaders, America would never have triumphed in WWII, let alone entered the conflict. They would still be bellowing for us to “leave Hitler alone,” not fight “on behalf of the Jews,” and dismissing the liberation of Auschwitz as meaningless. It’s easy to see in hindsight who was on the right and wrong side of that struggle and in the current war on terrorism, the truth is shaping up just as clearly.

It took the horrors of 9/11 to awaken me from my liberal stupor and at the time I felt strongly that those who hadn’t figured it out by then probably never would. It seemed obvious that in Islamic terrorism, America had found a nihilistic threat that sought not only to wipe out Western civilization, but civilization itself. The terrorists have been quite clear about their plans to form an Islamic caliphate and inhabit the entire world with burkas, stonings, amputations, honor killings, lack of religious and political freedom, and brutality. Whether to oppose such a movement should have been a no-brainer, especially for self-proclaimed “progressives.” Instead, they chose to align themselves with the forces of death and destruction.

Now with successful elections in both Afghanistan and Iraq and the continued intransigence of the naysayers, sadly, it seems that my predictions were accurate. History will be the true judge and something tells me it won’t be kind.