http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8206469.stm

- Eight years of reconstruction.

'But Western officials have said that, while the election will be flawed, Afghanistan should not be held to the same standards as elsewhere and that a flawed election is still better than no vote at all.'

- Should this be the standard we judge Afghanistan by? Is this what our accomplishment has amounted to? They've got corrupt and incomplete democracy, but it's better than anything else?!? Surely, a flawed democracy is in many ways no better than the most stinking dictatorship?

Sure. Its a start. When the USA first put on the mantle of Democracy, people owned slaves, you had to own property to vote and women could not vote at all. So in reality, our start at democracy was shaky and had to evolve. Also, most of Afghanistan is just wasteland with few cities. People probably have no idea what government is outside of whatever their tribal leaders offers.

I alwyas thought every Democracy was a Work in Progress sort of thing. Not as stable as having a royal family in charge of things, but will of the people, and all that.

Democracy...


zERQmic3JJ8

'Sure. Its a start. When the USA first put on the mantle of Democracy, people owned slaves, you had to own property to vote and women could not vote at all. So in reality, our start at democracy was shaky and had to evolve. '

- Well yes, but that was perfectly in keeping with political science, theory and progress of the day. This shit is medieval, comparitvely. Just because it was common for there to be a property qualification to vote two centuries ago, doesn't excuse this sham in Afghanistan today. This is *not* progress, IMO.

'Also, most of Afghanistan is just wasteland with few cities. People probably have no idea what government is outside of whatever their tribal leaders offers.'

- So maybe you're right, as you suggest that Afghanistan can't ever be a western democracy.

So what, we move out, and refuse to help any kind of a Democracy along? How well did that work for us the last time someone did that over there?