Afghan vote threatens Bush's credibility (Vote- Rigging)

[G_j]

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1092694222919&call_pageid=968332188854
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0817-01.htm

Afghan vote threatens Bush's credibility
Administration needs success to back claim of spreading democracy

But evidence of vote-rigging in Afghanistan may prove


CAROL HARRINGTON AND JARED FERRIE
SPECIAL TO THE STAR

KABUL—With evidence mounting of plans for widespread vote-rigging in Afghanistan's upcoming elections, U.S. experts say the controversy could emerge as a serious liability for U.S. President George W. Bush's re-election campaign.

After voter registration centres closed across Afghanistan on the weekend, election officials acknowledged the number of voting cards issued far exceeded the estimated number of eligible voters — and that the illegal practice of multiple registrations is widespread.

"An Afghan election marred by allegations of fraud would be bad for President Bush's overall claim of promoting democracy in the Muslim world," said Husain Haqqani, an Afghanistan expert at the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "In the absence of good news from Iraq, the Bush administration needs Afghanistan as its success story."

For months, Bush has staked his claims on a successful democratic Afghanistan, saying it would serve as an example of how America can bring democracy, and free and fair elections to the developing world.
..more..

[tlcandie]

1. He doesn't care about the details...

Just hide the truth, vote and get on with it! It's appearances and image that counts not real people or the truth.

[aden_nak]

2. Voter Fraud? I guess Afghanistan and the US will have something in common.

[krkaufman]

3. The reporter is a bit myopic

The author of this article seems to miss the basic point that "free and fair" elections aren't remotely possible in Afghanistan, excessive voter registration aside. The country is unsecure and ruled mostly by warlords. You can hardly have a democratic election under the current Afghan circumstances.

[bearfan454]

4. Too bad we can't make sure this goes out to the

Global Free Press.

[truthisfreedom]

5. hahahahaha. funny story. successful democratic voting, with bush

at the helm? hahahahahahaha. rove didn't spend enough time setting up dirty tricks in Afghanistan, otherwise we would never have read this story... it would have been buried using threats, intimidation, and extortion.

[G_j]

6. it goes without saying that

Its a good thing Bush & Co were not running the election in Venezuela.

[lovuian]

7. Welcome to Bush Democracy Steal Florida Steal Afghanistan

This tactic isn't new this is an old tactic

[mom cat]

8. You have to read this short part: LOL

The following snippet from the article is priceless:

He insisted no one involved in Karzai's election campaign has bought voting cards. "The president is a candidate who would never do anything like that."

Mustafa Durani, country representative for the International Republican Institute in Kabul, believes more than 1 million Afghans have registered twice. But he shrugs it off.

"Illegal things happen," said Durani, whose Washington-based group is associated with the U.S. Republican Party.

He stressed that it does not matter if someone registers one or 30 times because they are only allowed one vote.


:shrug: Just sounds like bush league democracy to me.