It will be several more days before the official results of Iraq's second national parliamentary elections are known -- which, in itself, is a sign of remarkable political progress.

In every other Middle Eastern nation (save Israel) elections -- if held at all -- are nothing more than sham balloting to "re-elect" well-entrenched dictators and impotent legislatures.

In Iraq, where millions defied bomb and mortar attacks that killed at least 36, the election was for real -- with the final results uncertain until the votes are completely counted.

Post-Saddam Iraq may not yet be fully at peace. But there is no denying that it is a functioning democracy.

Fully 62 percent of eligible Iraqis turned out at the polls.

Yes, that's a drop from 2005, when 76 percent cast ballots. But that was Iraq's first legitimate election in decades, and excitement was high. Moreover, this time around there were more stringent voter-ID requirements to prevent fraud.

Still, 62 percent is impressive -- certainly, the US rarely achieves national turnout numbers like that anymore.

Indeed, consider how the Obama team is trying to take credit for the fact that Iraq is no longer a giant battlefield.

That Iraq has achieved military stability is due almost entirely to the troop surge overseen by Gen. David Petraeus and enacted by then-President George Bush -- over the strong objections of both Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as nearly all of their Democratic colleagues.

Now Iraq appears embarked on achieving relative political stability, as well.

Early returns suggest Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's slate came out on top by campaigning against the religious parties that have dominated the government since Saddam was toppled, and will likely form a coalition government.

All of which strongly suggests that, contrary to the doomsday predictions of those like Obama and Biden, democracy is genuinely taking root in Iraq.