Will the Iraqi's vote?

I am wondering how many of the Iraqi people actually take the oppertunity to vote for thier governments leaders. I work in a hospital and have made friends with several Medical residents from the Middle East, One of them is from Iraq. Today I asked him if he planned on submitting an absentee ballot, He told me no. He stated he did'nt feel there was anyone worth voting for. I had to laugh and explain to him that some U.S. citizens feel that way also. He then explained his reasoning which I will not publish here.

I told him he should take advantage of being able to vote without fear of retaliation by insurgents, I told him he had the safest oppertunity to vote of most Iraqi's. He stood by his plan not to vote. I only wonder if here is an Iraqi citizen, with the ability to cast his vote without the fear of a car bomb exploding while doing so, And he still chooses not to. How many will risk thier lives?

I have high hopes that the Iraqi election will be a success, both in voter turnout and in security. I guess even in a country where tyranny reigned for so many years people still have a reluctance to fulfil civic duties. I explained to my friend that the ability to freely elect your leaders is one of the benifits of being free, And living in a democratic nation. I hope he will change his mind.

D.S. Flynn