Iraqi Elections

What a great day! Congratulations to the Iraqi people. 72% turnout according to initial figures, "only" 44 dead. Far better than the bloodbath that I, for one, expected. Which has all kinds of interesting implications in iteself: why were the insugents absent? I see 3 possibilities: 1) The security blanket was effective, 2) the takedown of Fallujah, and subsequent rolling-up of Zarqawi's dickheads hurt their planning and execution capabilities more than we imagine, or 3) they realize the futility of their cause.
Better election round-ups here, here, and here.