William H. Frist: “very briefly I will comment on what has been a very historic occasion in Iraq, something that has been symbolized on…”

“very briefly I will comment on what has been a very historic occasion in Iraq, something that has been symbolized on television and by pictures so vividly by the image of that blue ink-stained index finger which is being held up in triumph. Two days ago, people did not even think of that image and today it symbolizes freedom and liberty, those basic elements of democracy that we all cherish. Yesterday, the Iraqi people, 8 million strong, went to the polls to participate in the first free Iraqi election in decades. We were in Iraq 3 weeks ago, and before we went to Iraq even at that time people were saying there is no way these elections are going to be successful, nobody is going to show up for these elections, and to jump 3 weeks ahead to today and yesterday and to see those ink-stained fingers in the air and the fact that approximately 8 million voted is truly spectacular. I think all of us should feel real pride for the courageous men and women who risked their lives for freedom. Those pictures on the news really captured it. The people who voted came by foot, bus, van. They were old and they were young. They were men and women. It was all in defiance of the intimidation by terrorists, thugs, and assassins. In spite of the critics and the doubters, millions of Iraqis stood in line and cast their vote. As they came out, we saw those pictures of those ink-stained index fingers, the symbol of the power that is captured in that vote of freedom and democracy.”