Allegations of fraud in the Afghanistan election mount. 23,900 forged votes. 2,187 complaints of fraud. President Hamid Karzai must sort this out or get dumped, says Malcolm Rifkind. He needs the West more than they need him.
Afghanistan election
US complains to Karzai of Afghan election fraud
The Afghanistan election is still undecided, with news that computer software has delayed results and the US special envoy to Afghanistan having an ‘explosive’ meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai about fraud and ballot stuffing in the election.
Voting for Afghanistan. Again and again and again
The Election Complaints Commission has already received 1157 allegations of irregularities in Afghanistan. And the allegations are not just coming from disgruntled candidates.
The Taliban: the real winner in Afghanistan
Both sides may be claiming victory in Afghanistan’s recent elections, but the real winner is the Taliban, who successfully suppressed voter turnout and garnered international media attention, says Leslie H. Gelb.
Afghan elections: a bloody mess
Despite claims by the UN and foreign leaders that the Afghanistan elections were successful, it was in reality a deeply disappointing day for the country, with low voter turnout, allegations of fraud, violence, bloodshed and widespread intimidation.
Tell the world about our fake election
The change Afghanis had hoped for in their election did not come, says Afghanistan-based journalist Alex Strick van Linschoten, who describes an overwhelming mood of disappointment and disillusionment at the widespread voter fraud.
Blood, bombs and ballots
Afghanistan’s polls were soaked in blood, says The Sunday Times, with the Taliban successfully using violence to keep many Afghanis from voting — or having any hope for the future of their country.
Taliban cut off voters’ fingers
The Taliban has made good in its threat the cut off the in-stained fingers of voters in the Afghanistan elections, with two voters in the Kandahar region reportedly having their fingers chopped off by insurgents.
Afghanistan: the war that no one mentions
It’s costing us over A$1 billion per year, 50% of us oppose Australian troops being deployed and it’s failed to improve the rights of Afghan women. Why is public debate about Australia’s involvement in the war in Afghanistan muted? asks Lee Rhiannon.
Crikey wrap: Afghans head to the polls
Afghanis headed to the polls on Thursday amidst fears of violent attacks from Islamist Taliban forces, writes Crikey intern Emily Finlay.
Why the Afghanistan election will change nothing
The Afghanistan election is essentially meaningless, because the president serves as a puppet of democracy and the Taliban will still have the real control of the country, writes Thomas P.M. Barnett.
Violence and fraud threaten Afghan elections
Threats by the Taliban were enough to keep voter turnout at Afghanistan, with polling stations empty and escalating violence. But the government continues to say everything is fine, writes Jean MacKenzie.
Taliban affects Afghan elections
Voter turnout for the Afghanistan election may have been as low as 10% in regional areas and 26 people were killed in Taliban attacks, but officials were satisfied with the turnout and have deemed the election a success.
Live-blogging the Afghan election
Foreign Policy live-blog the Afghanistan election, with updates from regional centres and videos of vote counting.
What donkeys? Afghanistan elections get interactive
The Guardian have created a snazzy interactive map about the upcoming Afghanistan elections, showing region population breakdowns, who voted for Karzai in ‘04 and the top presidential contenders.
In Afghanistan, a corrupt and violent election is better than none at all
For all the problems that have beset Afghanistan’s presidential election — and there are many — the event still offers a badly-needed glimmer of hope for the country, says Nick Meo.
We took our eyes off Afghanistan
The media should stop fixating on the political conflict and focus on long term policy and systems in Afghanistan — not as headline grabbing, but more important for Australia’s future, writes Greg Sheridan.
Not president, but maybe 15 mins of fame and a govt job?
41 candidates in the Afghanistan election are running for president. While a few are serious, others are searching for fame, money or the possibility of a job in the new government.
The real threat to democracy in Afghanistan
The real concern about Afghanistan’s election isn’t that it will be fraudulent or a farce — that’s a given — it’s that international bodies will let them get away with it to save their own images.
Too much democracy, too soon?
Hamid Karzai may be corrupt and incompetent, says Joe Klein, but in a country still so politically volatile due to intimidation from the Taliban, his ability to unite Tajiks and Pashtuns may provide some much needed stability.
The vote must go on
Strong voter turnout in Afghanistan is vital if the country is to achieve political stability and legitimacy, says expert Ahmed Rashid, but fears of reprisals by the Taliban could prove fatal for the country’s democratic dreams.
Millions of Afghan women will go unheard
Millions of Afghan women may be denied their chance to vote in presidential elections this week because there aren’t enough female officials to staff the women-only polling stations — and culture dictates they cannot vote in male-run stations.
Can we trust pre-election polling in Afghanistan?
Polls suggest Hamid Karzai will win Afghanistan’s upcoming election, but just how accurate are they? Slate provides a primer to Afghan opinion polls.
Five things to watch out for in Afghanistan’s election
An outsider’s guide for things to keep an eye on as Afghanistan’s election unfolds, written by an international observer currently in the country to watch over the democratic process.
