Afghanistan's presidential rivals claim victory
With Both sides claiming victory in Afghanistan it is Politics as usual since Bush! Amidst reports of vote rigging and voter intimidation both Abdullah and Karzai are declaring victory. Abdullah and Karzai are both saying they have enough votes to avoid a runoff. First, the brave citizens who defied the Taliban's threats and violence should be commended for wanting their leader and Democracy enough to come out and vote.
At least in disrupting and preventing the election the Taliban has failed. However if both sides declare victory it will delegitimize our efforts over there more importantly all our men and women over there for all our NATO forces. I have to hope the two front runners President Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah honor their Brave citizens and America's considerable effort and keep this election process honorable though I admit that would be too much to ask in our own sad Political state.
This is another test for Afghanistan's young Democracy. One man who came out of the poll with his young son after voting said we have only one life at the end of the day as in Iran Women came out in large numbers and carried the day Despite Taliban intimidation and violence. After just 3 polling stations were counted both sides see things in their favor but real results should start trickling in by August 25th with final results due around September 5th.
I did hear that one person with a voting card admitted that he was only 13 years old. I can only hope voting fraud in whatever shape was not wide spread and whoever wins the election it is legitimized and they can quell the violence as Abdullah and his supporters are confident he can do and we can get the heck out of there as soon as possible.
Our multiple millions spent on our efforts in Afghanistan are not my only concern but it might be with our $12 trillion in Debt and our rapid slide towards bankruptcy.
Karzai, Abdullah teams claim wins in Afghan vote
James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com
