Sunday, August 23, 2009

Afghanistan election: an exercise in...what?

Foreign observers of this week's "election" in Afghanistan have started filing reports. Among those commenting was Canadian ex-politico John Manley, the same Manley man who recommended that Canadian troops stay in Afghanistan until 2011 to help establish democracy, rather than letting the Afghans duke it out by themselves.

The Free and Fair Election Foundation says that elections were marred by widespread fraud, intimidation and violence. These include multiple and underage voting, illiterates being told who to vote for and election officials being ejected from some polling stations.

Election officials were also seen were pressuring people to vote for certain candidates, while individual voters were caught carrying their own already-stuffed ballot boxes -- a novel example of BYOBB.

In Kandahar, where most of the heavy lifting is being done by Canadians, Taliban militants reportedly cut off the purple ink-stained fingers of some who voted. Presumably the victims will still be able to vote in up to nine future elections.

The Taliban killed some 26 Afghans in attacks aimed at destabilizing the elections. The relatively low number -- about 75% under budget -- has been hailed as proof of the effectiveness of western security forces. Military officials could not, however, explain the light turnout of about 40%, down from the 70% who voted in Afghanistan's first-ever elections in 2004.

Perhaps the low turnout had something to do with the perception that it doesn't matter in the slightest who wins the election. The civil war will continue, with American, Canadian and British troops fighting the corner of the "democratically elected government", while Karzai (for it is he who will "win") watches from the comfort of his palace.

Walt remembers an old joke...
Q. When do the Japanese have their best elections?
A. Just before bleakfast!

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