From: jeff 

Adam Flinton wrote:
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3695684.stm
>
> "The power of Afghan armed factions means elections there will go ahead
> in an environment of fear and repression, US-based Human Rights Watch says.
>
> A 51-page report released on Tuesday says local warlords are involved in
> widespread intimidation aimed at affecting the 9 October poll results.
>
> Most are former mujahideen leaders and are resisting efforts to disarm
> them.
>
> The study says warlords are using threats of violence to ensure people
> vote for their preferred candidate.
>
> While the continuing Taleban insurgency often gets more headlines, it is
> the grip these commanders retain that worries more people here.
>
> 'US complacency'
>
> In some areas the report, entitled The Rule of the Gun, argues the power
> of the warlords is so entrenched that political activists and
> journalists are censoring themselves for fear of retaliation.
>
> The US group also attacks the American government for complacency about
> the country's election process and for continuing to work with many of
> these warlord figures in its war on terror, a strategy it calls
> self-defeating.
>
> Speaking just before the report's release, the US ambassador to
> Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, acknowledged the issue. "
>
>
> Adam

You know, it sounds a bit like organized crime in the US... the first
generation are outlaws, the second generation wants respectability, the
third generation achieves it.

If we can just keep the first generation from totally screwing it up, they
might have a chance.

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