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Afghanistan Votes
That fifteen presidential candidates declared the historic election illegitimate is certainly a serious concern. After all, if Afghans become disillusioned with the voting system, democracy will crumble before its foundation is even laid. So we should rigorously investigate the complaints.

But, at the same time, we must recognize that today's events were tremendously successful. For months, international observers worried about significant terrorist disruption. Yet, as the Washington Post reports:

An unprecedented deployment of nearly 100,000 Afghan and foreign security forces, who sealed off all major roads and guarded most polling centers, appeared to have staved off any major anti-election attacks.

Police said they discovered a fuel tanker truck carrying landmines and explosives in the southern city of Kandahar, and arrested three Pakistanis in it. They said the volatile cargo could have been detonated in the city, causing election-day mayhem. Interior Ministry officials said they found explosives or other dangerous items in cars throughout the capital, and arrested a group of Taliban members who were holding a clandestine meeting.

Scattered violence -- restricted to distant provinces -- was the exception, not the rule. In general, the atmosphere seemed conducive to voting. Note these dispatches from BBC correspondents stationed throughout the country:
[W]hat has been most remarkable is the large scale participation of women. In the northern Balkh province, women came out in their bridal finery -- with beads around their necks and henna on their hands -- to vote.

In Kabul, at the end of the day, emotional women told the BBC that it had been the most memorable day in their lives. Some of them were in tears.

[...]

Voting was very good in Shibergan with large numbers of people turning out to vote. There was tight security and in general the day was very peaceful.

[...]

A few here [in Mazar-e-Sharif] complained about voting irregularities, but on the whole the mood has been very positive and cheerful.

If Hamid Karzai's rivals reject the election now, the thousands of men and women who voted for them will be bitterly disappointed.

[...]

Voting has ended here in Herat and while there was some disappointment about the use of washable ink to mark voters' hands, the majority of Afghans have been content with the process.

[...]

And the mood here wasn't tarnished by the problem with the ink. It was a celebration today. There was a tremendous buzz of excitement at the polling stations.

I genuinely got the feeling that this was the people's opportunity and that's why in Kandahar the problem with the ink is being laughed out of town.

People here believe that it was no massive fraud but either incompetence or confusion.

http://www.tagorda.com/archives/003676.php