U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn) said the election in Iraq "spells the beginning of the end" for the "terrorist killers" who made a "last ditch violent effort to derail the democratic process."

"But they failed, and the millions of Iraqis who bravely cast thier votes todaycan claim a crucial victory for themselves and for their dreams of a new Iraq," Lieberman said in a statement issued Sunday, Jan. 30.

Now the Iraqi government must “move with urgency and determination to bring the millions who would not or could not vote into the political process so that the important  elections to come are truly representative of all the Iraqi people," Lieberman said.

“Today’s victory could not have been possible without the courage, conviction and compassion of American and other coalition troops, who are playing a vital role in protecting Iraq’s new 
democracy," the senator added. "The sacrifice so many have made is vindicated by today’s vote. 

“We have reached an important milestone and achieved a new momentum in reaching a goal all 
Americans should embrace— building a secure, peaceful, democratic Iraq that is no longer a threat to the United States or the international community.”      —Donald H. Harrison