The 60% turnout in the January elections and the scenes of Iraqis risking their lives to vote has led to hopes that a political settlement in Iraq may be possible. The elections are but a first step; the insurgency continues; civil war remains possible.
初期的迹象令人鼓舞。一月大选时60%的投票率和伊拉克人冒着生命危险投票的情景让人对伊拉克问题和平解决的可能充满希望。然而，选举仅仅是第一步，叛乱仍在继续，内战仍可能发生。可不论如何，选举可能已经软化了人们对布什伊拉克政策挥之不去的不信任感。