Article February 23, 2004 Issue

My prayer for better World government

By Tony Lobl

I remember A BBC Broadcast when the senior George Bush lost his reelection bid in 1992. Talking from Houston, Texas, Bush conceded defeat to Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton's "strong campaign" and ended by saying, "We will get behind this new President and wish him well."

Watching from the United Kingdom, I was impressed by this transfer of power in the world's most powerful nation. That same BBC broadcast immediately cut to Iraq, where people were watching the concession speech on TV in a cafe. I was struck with the thought, "What is unspoken in their hearts and minds as they watch this? Are they silently hoping and praying for a government that will change hands peacefully, because of their vote?"

Last month, the BBC brought me further insight on that question, almost 12 years after I'd first asked it. They ran a news story on coalition effort to finesse the right route to a new government in Iraq. Despite another two lethal bombs that would, on the surface of things, seem to make voting a dangerous and undesirable proposition for the population, the reporter made it clear that most Iraqis were eager to go to the polls. He said they deeply desired the right to participate in their future government.