"Bush talks about freedom and democracy but all the
Americans have brought is death and destruction. Where's our electricity?
Where's our oil money?" asked Abu Ghazwan, a greengrocer in southwestern
Baghdad.
"Bush got rid of Saddam, the madman behind the mass graves, the wars and the
huge debts. Now let him do better. Bush wants to play occupier, then let him
improve security."
Struggling with daily bombings and kidnappings that have plagued the country
since last year's invasion, many Iraqis were dismayed Bush had won another term,
though few had hoped for much better from his Democratic challenger John Kerry.
While glad to be rid of Saddam, many Iraqis, like most Arabs, worried that
another four years of Bush would bring more bloodshed to a country that has
borne the brunt of his administration's doctrine of preemptive attacks.
"They call Saddam a criminal, but Bush is the biggest criminal and terrorist
in the world. I only expect crimes and killings and occupation of Muslim
countries from him," said Waad Mohammed Ali, a butcher in Baghdad's central
Karrada area.
"Not that Kerry would have been much better. They're all determined to suck
our blood."
With more than 1,100 American soldiers killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led war
began and more than 138,000 U.S. troops now struggling with a relentless
insurgency there, Iraq was a divisive American campaign issue.
Kerry had accused Bush of mishandling Iraq and pledged to reach out more to
U.S. allies. Bush vowed to stay the course.
"Choosing Bush for a new term is a crisis for Iraqis, especially people in
Falluja, because it will prompt him to continue his policy of killing and
destruction against Arabs and Muslims," said Mohammed Ali, a student from the
rebel-held Sunni Muslim city that faces daily U.S. bombardment.
BRING FREEDOM, BRING DEMOCRACY
Many Iraqis were less concerned with who was in the White House than whether
its occupant would make it safe for them to go out after dark again and would
finally withdraw U.S. troops.
"The occupation would have continued even if Kerry won, so I'm not happy
either way," said Ismael Saleh from the northern city of Kirkuk. "I'll only be
happy when the occupation ends."
Some just hoped they would be able to cast their own ballots in what they
hope will be Iraq's first free election in decades, scheduled for January but
threatened by violence.
"Even if Kerry had won it would have been the same for Arabs," said Meqdad
Qais al-Hakim, a Shi'ite Muslim grocer in Baghdad. "But since Bush won I hope he
will pull the American forces out of Iraq and hold elections on time."
Some Iraqis seemed content that Saddam was behind bars and Bush still in the
White House.
"I am happy Bush won because he got rid of Saddam's regime and that's all,"
Hassan Ali al-Jibouri, a young baker, said, giving a reporter five freshly baked
loaves to celebrate.
