Do Iraqis want Democracy?

Just backing up something I said in the comments. Check out this article in the Guardian regarding local elections in April:

The poll was the latest in a series which this overwhelmingly Shia province has held in the past six weeks, and the results have been surprising. Seventeen towns have voted, and in almost every case secular independents and representatives of non-religious parties did better than the Islamists.

I love that the reporter is surprised. Is it naive to think that people would choose freedom over repression? I'm sure most Iraqis would rather have had anyone but the United States deliver their freedom, but.... any port in a storm.