With the health care reform vote under the spotlight, another major and positive development is going unnoticed in the Middle East. The possible winner in the Iraqi elections could be Ayad Alawi. The results thus far are questioned but not rejected by Nouri Al-Maliki, the current Prime Minister. If the results are accepted and led to a change in the leadership in Iraq. Iraq can then claim to be the second democratic country in the Middle East, after Lebanon.
For the people in Middle East and for America this is remarkable for two reasons; first, fair and free elections if allowed, will surely produce a change in the politics of any country. Second, contrary to what the dictators in the region have been arguing to America, that free election will bring Islamists to power, threatening American interests in the region, Ayad Alawi is a secular Shiite who won the votes of the Iraqis of all sects.
Will this encourage the current U.S. administration to promote transparency and democracy in the greater Middle East? I hope so.