Lou Dobbs Tonight

Tanya Gilly is with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies joining us tonight from our studies in Washington D.C.

Good to have you with us.

TANYA GILLY, FEDERATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES: Good to be here.

DOBBS: First, your reaction, Tanya, to what appears to be a monumental success in Iraq in this election?

GILLY: Well, I think this is going to sound like a cliche, but it definitely is a dream come true for a lot of Iraqis, not just for the Kurdish people. And it is history in the making, whether we agree with it or not. But it definitely is something that a lot of people did not expect to happen, and especially this soon after the fall of the regime.

DOBBS: There’s great discussion and expression of concern about the fact that the Sunnis have — at least many of the leading Sunni clerics have called for a boycott of this election on the part of the Sunni people in Iraq. Yet, the Sunnis and the Kurds make up just about the same proportion of this — the total regime. Is it your sense that the Kurdish people are going to be well represented and will be part of a harmonious government in Iraq in the months and years ahead?

GILLY: Well, definitely we have to remember that this is the first time that the Kurds are actually going to have a proper representation in Baghdad. And another point that I’d like to make also is that a lot of the Kurds are Sunnis. So whether we like to call them Sunni Arabs or just Kurds, I mean, I think this is again, it is somewhat confusing for the Kurds.

But they definitely will have, and I believe they will have a good representation this time around, just because they lobbied actively and they were very successful in campaigning and in providing security for their regions.

DOBBS: The Kurdish people, many of them, seeking for the extension of control, an autonomy to Kirkuk. Another issue between the Kurds and the broader population of Iraq. Give us your best judgment as to what the prospects are that each of these issues can be worked out peacefully and democratically amongst the ethnic groups of Iraq and the various geographical elements of the country.

GILLY: Well, we have to remember that what a lot of the Kurds from Kirkuk want is they want to go back home. Kirkuk especially in the late ’80s was under the Arabization process that has actually been going — going on for many years. But it was very much accelerated in the late ’80s and in the ’90s, and all those Kurds that were kicked out of the city, they want to go back, they want to reclaim their homes, they want to reclaim their lives again, and go back to, you know, to the land of their forefathers.

With regard to any ethnic clashing that may take place in Kirkuk, I highly doubt it, because it seems that the original occupants of the city are willing to work together, and we’re actually seeing this in the election that took place today in Iraq. For example, you have these…

DOBBS: Wait a minute. I’m sorry, Tanya, we’re just about of time. Your sense is that today the future has been altered for the better for decades to come for your country?

GILLY: Yes, of course. And for all Iraqis, not just for the Kurds.

DOBBS: Tanya Gilly, good to have you with us.

GILLY: Thank you.

DOBBS: And again, congratulations to you. GILLY: Thank you.

DOBBS: Still ahead, a critical task for our troops in Iraq, providing security for today’s elections. General David Grange will be back with us.

And writing the law of the land. What legal experts say Iraqis must now do constitutionally.

And stay with CNN throughout this evening for the very latest from Iraq.