Good news from Iraq: an Iraqi appeals court has overturned the Iranian-backed attempt to prevent 500 candidates from seeking office on grounds of alleged Baathist connections. If it had been allowed to stand, the disqualification might have led to election boycotts and cast a pall over the legitimacy of the election results. The fact that a court could intervene and do the right thing is a sign that Iraq is developing some badly needed checks and balances in its political system.

This is yet another sign that — despite the concerns of many pessimists — Iraq is not “unraveling.” In fact, its nascent democracy continues to lurch forward, notwithstanding terrorist atrocities such as this attack in Karbala.