Afghan elections?

[1ARMEDBANDIT]

In a nutshell what outcome in these elections are the USA/UK and the western allies hoping for and what if they don`t get it?

[jake-the-peg]

I think it's more to do with the amount of participation than who is elected.

If only a small percentage are able to or want to vote it will be a major set back to the goal of setting up a stable government.

It would give the Taliban a much stronger bargaining position when talks eventually happen.

[Sqad]

In a nutshell you say.........."A democratically elected Government"

I don't understand what you mean by " what if they don't get it?"

[Julnar]

My biggest concern is the western attitude that democracy in itself is some kind of cure all remedy. Personally, I believe strong government would do the Afghans more good and that might not be found with democracy. I hope I'm wrong though.

[Lonnie]

Democracy is what the Western powers want, but won't get, these people either don't want it, or don't understand it, probably a bit of both, but it'll never happen, in the way that our leaders want.

If they don't get it, there are only two options, stay, or get out, and there are voices in support of both.

What we think, right now, won't make a blind bit of difference either way.

[Sandy-Wroe]

The blood of our young men and women is bolstering one of the most corrupt political regimes in the world.
The drug production won't stop, the war lords will still hold large areas of Afghanistan in their grip, and the Taliban will probably be invited to talks so that they can take a part in the government.
I doubt if our government knows what it wants from that country.
It's been said we may need to be there for 40 years. I wouldn't like to think that we'll be bringing back the bodies of the fallen over all those years.

[Sqad]

Sandy

It's been said we may need to be there for 40 years. I wouldn't like to think that we'll be bringing back the bodies of the fallen over all those years.


That is not quite what he said......an influence for 40 yrs.....NOT an invading force or occupying force,but thinking more of an consultative influence.

[jake-the-peg]

Sandy you're right in one respect - there will be talks

Just like there was in Northern Ireland

But these elections are important regarding what happens in those talks.

People will always grow drugs whilst there's a market - the Afghans might well say - stop buying drugs and we'll stop growing them. Drugs are a western problem not an Afghan one - and they are nothing to do with our presence there

This is not a war against drugs.

The UK Government is quite clear what they want as is the US Government - Only the Newspapers seem to be unclear.

They want a stable Afghanistan that is not a threat to Western Countries

Is that so hard to grasp?

If we pull out now you'll have Al Qaeda training camps back there full of pi$$ed off Afghans before Christmas.

And what is this "fallen" nonsense? Saying "fallen" instead of dead doesn't make you a war poet you know!

[rov1200]

I agree with your comment Julnar. What has democracy given us? Trying to please all the people all of the time has created a disunified society. It was only during WWII that we all pulled together with the same aim.

Although you may silence those who have something useful to say many of the rebellious remainder will be put firmly in their place.

[Lonnie]

if the marker for success is a stable Afghanistan goverment, then the only way that'll happen, is if the Taliban are once again in control, and then we'er back at the start.