Iraq

Top stories of 2005 | War and progress | Mindy Belz

Heading into the first multiparty elections in 81 years, Iraqis in January were an odd brand of hopeful and fatalistic. "It's one of my wishes to die at the gate of the polling station," said a smiling Suheil Yassin in Baghdad. "I want to be a martyr for the ballot box."

At least 36 Iraqis did die trying to cast their vote Jan. 30, but over 8 million succeeded. Purple-stained fingers became an overnight fashion symbol and sparked colored revolutions beyond the Arab world. No one expected women with children in tow to stand in line at a polling station in defiance of Sunni militants who threatened to shoot them. No one expected candidates to stand for office after assassination attempts so numerous that parties only—no names—were listed on ballots.