The high turnout in Shia and Kurdish areas had nothing to do with democracy.

Are you people on the right really thick, or are you just trying to wind up the rest of us?
I know some of you have a genetic excuse, but there are at least two who are quite capable of joined-up thinking.

The Iraqi election was to do with power,just like the pretend elections we have.
The power once gained is always stolen by those who pull the strings.
Sistani and the Shia clerics want power to consolidate their position and ultimately to impose an Islamic republic.   Is that what you mean by freedom?
The Kurds are hoping to grab as much of the oil rich areas to the North as they can.   If they succeed, the wealth will go to tribal leaders and warlords not to the people. Is that what you mean by freedom?
The Sunnis of course didn't vote, oreven wish the election to take place, as they knew they had no hope of retaining power. Is that freedom?

We have no real democracy in the West, just a facade. Capital determines all policy regardless of which part is "in power", so how can we expect democracy in a tribal, fanatically religious country like Iraq.
The mess is not getting better, USA and UK are out of their depth, and the manipulators are now the manipulated...Ake