From: Adam Flinton 

jeff wrote:

> 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.


Yup but they've got a lot to lose i.e. money, power, prestige etc. Possibly
the normal things (i.e. you **will** get voted in as the "area
representative" & thus you **will** get some high up ministerial
job/governorship) might cover it (i.e. coopt them into the process such
that the source of their money,power & prestige changes but not the
actual money power etc.).

Adam

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