By Amanda J. Reinecker

Though there remains much work to be done in Iraq, the election turnout last Sunday suggests that American efforts to promote stability and democracy in the region are paying off. Despite threats of violence, nearly 62 percent of Iraq's 19 million voters showed up to the polls in what the New York Times describes as "arguably the most open, most competitive election in the nation's long history of colonial rule, dictatorship and war."

The news of Iraq's successful parliamentary elections was all the buzz around Washington. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) joined a number of his congressional colleagues in commending those who made the election possible:

To the men and women who have served in Iraq, this is a testament to your service. To the Iraqi people, well done.  Keep trying, democracy is hard, but there is a better way for your children if you continue the course that you're on.  It will be a moderating force in the Mideast at a time when we desperately need it.

But the Iraqi regime still faces many internal and external hurdles. Perhaps the greatest challenge is its larger neighbor to the east: Iran, the foremost state sponsor of terrorism. The Iranian regime is steadfast in its desire to sabotage Iraq's democratic experiment. Its threat to Iraq's fledging democracy cannot and should not be downplayed. Were they to succeed, the repercussions would stretch beyond Iraq and into the entire Middle East and even back to the United States.  

Maintaining and improving stability in Iraq is largely contingent on how the world responds to Iran and its rogue nuclear program. To succeed, America and its allies will require a clear and well-designed strategy. The Heritage Foundation has outlined Ten Steps to a Free Iran, each of which should be incorporated into this comprehensive strategy:

1.  Impose and enforce the strongest sanctions;

2.  Drop opposition to gasoline sanctions;

3.  Target public diplomacy to expose the regime's human rights abuses;

4.  Facilitate communications among dissidents;

5.  Aid opposition groups;

6.  Reduce Iran's meddling in Iraq;

7.  Target covert actions to discredit the regime;

8.  Modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal;

9.  Expand U.S. military capabilities to defend U.S. interests and allies; and

10.  Deploy a robust and comprehensive missile defense system.

In combination, these steps will better enable America and our allies to build upon the Iraqi regime's success by standing firm against Iran. We should work to preserve stability in Iraq, both because it benefits Iraqi citizens and because Iraq can serve as a model of freedom for the Iranian people.

» For more Heritage research on Iran, visit the Iran Briefing Room.

> Other Heritage Work of Note

"It's a trifecta! Jobs, health and regulatory reform are on the agenda for the Senate this week. On the floor, Senators will focus on a massive tax extenders package that has been billed as a stimulus. Behind closed doors, Senate Democrats will be discussing how to move health care via reconciliation. Also behind closed doors, several Senators will continue to hammer out the details of financial regulatory reform. As with most weeks, the consequential action is taking place out of the eyes of the public.

Keep up with Congress' weekly agenda by visiting The Heritage Foundation's Cloakroom.

•  It's no surprise to anyone who follows politics (or pays taxes) that government spending is wildly out of control. But, Heritage President Ed Feulner asks, what does this really mean for the American citizen in the coming years? According to the recently published Index of Dependence on Government, only one in three Americans will pay taxes if trends continue, and around 75 million baby boomers relying on Medicare in the next 25 years. Something has to be done, says Feulner. His solution? "One simple, fair fix would be a flat tax with a low rate. When [more people have] skin in the game, they'd be eager to depend less on government."

• The February unemployment report showed that job growth in the service sector was positive or remained flat, despite steep cuts in the construction industry. Government data indicated that there were enough new jobs last month to support the number of new workers in the job market. Despite this good news, Heritage analyst Rea Hederman cautions, "this coming labor market recovery is likely to be sluggish as job creation numbers remain low — the result of business's reluctance to add to payroll in the current economic and political climate."

• In a Democratic strategy meeting last week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) won plaudits from many conservatives when she suggested suspending earmarks for one year. There are several reasons why suspending earmarks is necessary, argues Dani Doane, Heritage's director of government relations. She offers several ways to achieve this goal, including developing a "practical working definition" of what an earmark is. "Earmarks are so widely used and abused that it is hard to get a firm plan for reduction when they can so easily be moved or re-named." If enacted, this proposal could help rein in spending abuses.

> In Other News

• The soon-to-be former Congressman Eric Massa (D-NY) is ruffling some feathers. Massa, who faces allegations of inappropriate behavior with his staffers, is attacking his party, including White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, for forcing him out of office over his unwillingness to support Obamacare.

• The Wall Street Journal reports: "Lawmakers working to craft a new comprehensive immigration bill have settled on a way to prevent employers from hiring illegal immigrants: a national biometric identification card all American workers would eventually be required to obtain."

• Detroit, long regarded as a center of industry, may be looking to transform some of its vacant lots, once home to car manufacturers, into farm land. This was an idea originally introduced in the 1990's, but it is becoming more of a reality as the city faces tough economic struggles.

• Recipients of unemployment insurance funds are now allowed to collect benefits for as long as 99 weeks. Has this "temporary" relief has turned into a permanent, expensive entitlement along European lines?

> Coming up at Heritage

To attend these or any other events at Heritage please RSVP at Heritage's website. Or you can view these events live online. All times are Eastern.

• On Thursday, March 11 at noon, Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) will offer his outside-the-box approach to protecting consumers in the financial marketplace.

Amanda Reinecker is a writer for MyHeritage.org—a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation. Nathaniel Ward, the Editor of MyHeritage.org, and Eva Brates, a Heritage Foundation intern, contributed to this report.