Good news from Afghanistan

by Terry Fri Oct 15, 2004 00:53

By the same token, did you travel out to Afghanistan and prove that the election is working great?

You, like me will have take your information from various news sources.

In my case, I used a simple bit of logic which was consistency of facts or so called facts from which to determine whether what is said is likely to be true, false, partially true or false, or whatever.

The situation in Affghanistan is bad and has been going right back to the Soviet Afghan war. It is a war torn country, run by warlords.

We were led to belive that back in 2001, the US arrived and drove out the bad guys and everything has been gradually getting better to the point where we are having elections.

Well that just doesn't add up. There is this concept, that since the bad Tailiban are gone, then what replaced them is good. No, they are also just as bad, maybe not equally bad, but bad all the same.

The next obvious thing is that the current bunch of warlords will most certainly be trying to steer things so that they remain in power, in their particular region. No surprise there. Then I hear that there are more voters registered than there are those entitled to vote. That's sounds possible. Then I hear, that the so-called indelible ink used to mart peoples hands when they vote, in fact isn't and comes off. Would it not then be reasonable to assume there would be a lot of repeat voting?

Or for example, the following text from: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/oct2004/afgh-o12.shtml
In comments to the Washington Post, presidential candidate Homayoun Shah Assefy said he had received many calls from polling places in southern and eastern Afghanistan complaining of irregularities that favoured Karzai. “This was not an accident. It was pre-organised. Yesterday I thought this was an historic day, but unfortunately it was a black day for democracy and the future of democracy in Afghanistan,” he declared.

The US and UN quickly stepped in to prevent the protest over the ink debacle from exposing the election as a carefully contrived charade. UN and Afghan election officials rejected calls for voting to be suspended. Behind the scenes, US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad began a round of meetings with opposition candidates aimed at pressuring them to back down. According to the New York Times, Khalilzad “suggested” to Qanooni that he “could best help his own political future by not appearing to thwart the will of the Afghans”.

Well aware who pulls the strings in Kabul, Qanooni and several other prominent candidates quickly backed down. Qanooni indicated yesterday that he would accept the outcome of a UN investigation into voting irregularities.


So, they are being pressurized in the background to say it's a legit election. This is to allow the mainstream press to report it so and is presumably where you read it is. So it all gets down to whether you trust that this is not happening, that no pressure was applied. Now why would such pressure be applied, perhaps so that the US govt, can use it to keep up the facade that they are there to bring democracy.

I can go on. It would appear instead, you don't like dealing with the messy reality. You seem to think, that it's all nice and tidy and everything is orderly. I wish it was that way too, but I am realistic enough to see that things don't happen just like that. If only it were so.

And to your last question, do I hope it's not a sham. I hope it's not, but unfortunately the evidence is to the contrary. Am I happy enough for the worst? Certainly not. And do I want to blame the yanks? No, it 's not about blaming the American people, but it is about blaming the government and administration of that country and all those others who aid them in their domination of Afghanistan. And if it had been Russia, or China that had happened to invade instead, then I would likewise critize them.

You may say, but the US govt. is bringing democracy? Sadly, history shows, invasions are never about bringing democracy. And again you may say, but the US is a democracy and therefore that rule does not apply. Again the history lessons still applies and besides outline exactly the mechanisms that would make it so.

by MeatIsDinner Thu Oct 14, 2004 13:11

Thanks for your on-the-ground report from Afghanistan Terry. Good of you to travel out there in order to report back with empirical evidence. Much better than someone sitting in ireland just posting what they want to be true for political reasons.

Tell me, do you hope thet the election isn't a sham, for the sake of the afghan people, or are you happy enough to hope for the worst, so that you can blame the yanks?

by Anon Thu Oct 14, 2004 02:07

Checkout the link

by King Amdo Wed Oct 13, 2004 18:25

YOU ARE ZOMBIE.

by King Amdo Tue Oct 12, 2004 22:46

Pashtun hospitality is legendary. he will invite you into his home. He will give you food before himself, as a matter of honour he will lay his life down before yours. This is what makes it all real instead of empty worthless poncers. Now the Irish arn't so bad, but from the viewpoint where I'm at present here in blighty can you imagine a total stranger even giving you a ride in their car! It is this tribal wide (not just a few nice guys, but EVERYONE) love that the west seeks ultimate to destory and replace with shop mall separation and scism.

They will never ever ever ever succeed in destoying the values of honour and love in Pashtun society.

Tribal leadership, please be responsible. You have the right to defend Tribal Soverignty...but not to engage in any false 'world takover' trips. Don't egoise please, I know that you mean well, and only want me/us to experience Allah's love, but please leave it to Allah!

I also recommend that you forget the alien puritanical Saudi Wahabbbi
trip and get back into some good skunk.

Oh and forget about the bloody american election 'game' , 'cos its a very very sick one.

Allah Akbar,

King Amdo

PASHTUN TRIBAL SOVERIGNTY!

by Terry Tue Oct 12, 2004 03:27

Apparently there are more voters registered in Afghanistan than there are those entitled to vote.

I think it should be clear that the election there be recognised for what it really is: a meaningless sham.

When we cast our minds back to Oct 2001 and we had Mrs Blair and Mrs Bush giving speeches about womens rights and then the much vaunted publicity for the yellow lunch boxes that were air-dropped and to kids looked no different to cluster-bomb bomblets, and of course all the fake promises of aid and reconstruction and democracy, it is clear how hollow the whole lot has been.

Instead not a lot has changed except one thing. The heavy use of Depleted Uranium weapons has contaiminated the groundwater in many places all over Afghanistan and has thus condemended these people to a never ending horror.

by Michael Hennigan Mon Oct 11, 2004 15:21

shades of the Taliban here methinks!!

Viewing the election as a positive development is not a justification of the past quarter century of misery.

As to slaves, maybe you should find out what some of the salves under Taliban rule think about the situation- i.e female Afghanis.

by Noel Mon Oct 11, 2004 14:19

Thomas,

I'm curious, is there any truth to the rumour that Americans landed on the moon?

by Thomas Mon Oct 11, 2004 13:50

The Taliban were removed by violent means for "involved" with Ossama Bin Laden who Bush blamed for the "attacks" on "9/11".
"9/11" was a mass deception created by the CIA/Mossad to justify American and Israeli oppression of the Muslim poor.
Afghans are now the slaves of America.
Anyone who claims the "election" was "free and fair" is a liar.

This article should be deleted immediately.