The ballots have been counted and there is reason for optimism. Starting at the back of the pack, Iyad Allawi, perceived by many as America’s candidate, came in third. What does that prove? That this election was decided by Iraqis, not by Americans. That’s how we wanted it. That’s how we said it should be. That’s how it was.

The Kurds came in second. That’s good, too. Not just because the Kurds are Iraqis who suffered greatly under Saddam and did indeed celebrate the arrival of America troops by cheering, waving flags and throwing flowers (far from CNN’s cameras, unfortunately) but also because the Kurds will insist on minority rights — not just for themselves but also for the Sunnis. (Actually, most Kurds are Sunnis – but they are Kurdish Sunnis, not Arab Sunnis and relatively few of them are Salafists, that is radical Islamic fundamentalists.

The Shia, who also were oppressed and slaughtered under Baathist rule, came in first – but with a plurality, not a majority. If they are smart, they will understand that to govern Iraq will require forming alliances, making compromises, working issues out in the political sphere (a concept with which few in the Middle East have had experience). In other words, they will need to develop democratic habits which can lead to democratic values which will give solidity to democratic institutions.

It is true that many Sunni did not participate in the voting. Two explanations: Some were afraid to vote, intimidated by the terrorists. So we have to work with freedom-loving Iraqis to eliminate those who prevented their fellow Iraqis from exercising their rights. Others may have chosen not to vote. That does not de-legitimize the elections, any more than it would have de-legitimized the election of Nelson Mandela had white South Africans chosen not to participate. It is to be expected that some Sunnis chose not participate in an election that would bring to power groups that had long been subject to the will and whims of an unelected minority. But such people can not hold democracies hostage.

The American interest here is straightforward: We want an Iraqi government that isn’t hostile to us, that isn’t vowing revenge and shouting “Death to America!”, that isn’t sponsoring terrorism, that isn’t developing WMDs, that isn’t slaughtering, torturing and raping its own people.

An Iraq that is a free and democratic, that provides opportunity and, in time, prosperity – that would be a bonus. Yes, we do hope for such a bonus. That, along with our desire to leave Iraq rather than rule Iraqi, is a big part of what makes us different from the imperialists and interventionists of the past.