From: Adam Flinton 

jeff wrote:
> Adam Flinton wrote:
>
>> jeff wrote:
>>
>>> Adam Flinton wrote:
>>>
>>>> jeff wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Robert G Lewis wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> We still have some confidence in our voting
system. Do they ?
>>>>>>
>>>>> Did the Afghani's?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Depends where I suspect. Right now there are lots of places where
>>>> you simply vote for the man with the most guns who may be able to
>>>> find out how you voted.
>>>>
>>>> Adam
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Do you have any verifiable evidence that this happened there?
>>
>>
>>
>> Yup.
>>
> Let's see it.

ALL (not just a few) of the opponents to Mr Karzai were so convinced that
they ALL decided to boycott the election because of the widespread
irregularities.

The powerfull ones were in large part convinced back into the process by
your Mr Khalizad & then the boycott crumbled.

Various election boxes came back from a fair few places where they had
obvously been "stuffed" as the only people who were safe in that
area were people of that warlord.

Look up the election boycott, look up the ballot stuffing. It has all been reported.

What you don't see is the fact that there were not enough election
officials esp in dangerous/out of the way places & as such it was up to
the locals (i.e. the warlords/drug lords) to organise it in those places.


>
>> So does your gov.
>>
> I'm not asking them.
>

Of course not, after all what would they tell you other than the std spin.

>> But all the major warlords got what they wanted so....deal done.
>>
> I dunno - I heard of some disappointed candidates out there.
>

Really. Heard Dostum or any of the other majors getting really upset ?



>> Cooption is the name of the game. Noone really expects free & fair.
>>
>> Maybe 2 or 3 elections from now you might get it but till then it's
>> more important to let the men with guns keep their power & pander to
>> their egos with "national posts".
>>
>>
>> Adam
>
>
> You have to have the first one before you can have the 3rd or 4th.


Oh indeed but people shouldn't go "oh there's been an election now
it's all OK".

I would direct such people's gaze towards examples in Africa & even
South America. A large number of dictators were voted in (e.g. Mugabe)
& then used the state to ensure their "electoral success".

Adam

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5