Last Straw

United States offi­cials declared them­selves “heartened” by a strong elec­tion turnout in the face of viol­ent repris­als from insur­gents. The turnout was described as a “key­stone” in the President’s plans to encour­age con­sti­tu­tional pro­cesses and deemed likely to allow the new gov­ern­ment to act with a “con­fid­ence and legit­im­acy” long lack­ing. Iraq, 2005? No. Viet­nam, 1967.