Jonah, I think what we’re learning this morning is that that the Iraqis who have been going out to vote today could not have been scared away by loud noises. These are courageous people. I’m pleased — and not entirely surprised.

For the past three years I’ve been working with Iraqis – with exiled dissidents, with freedom fighters, with pro-democracy activists. Brave and admirable people.

The only question was how exceptional those people were. I was never sure there were there enough of them back in Iraq to determine a new direction. It was possible that those who stayed behind and lived for so long under Saddam’s oppression had been beaten down and no longer had the strength to stand up for themselves.

What I think we’re learning today – the big news of the day – is that the Iraqi spirit has not been crushed. Iraqis do want to choose their leaders and are willing to risk death and dismemberment to do that. They do want to take charge of their lives and live in freedom.

If that’s true, there is hope for the greater Arab and Muslim worlds, as well.