Afghans vote despite rocket strikes and bombings

This is totally unreal. The only ballots that count in Afghanistan are those in the magazines of AK47s.

A ridiculous horse-and-pony show. How can Western leaders be foolish enough to believe they can introduce Western democracy in Afghanistan by decree?

@WilliB: I belive the term is DOG and pony show but get your meaning.

OK. Dog and pony, or sky-blue Burkha and goat. Whatever. In any case, it is PATHETIC, and any more Western lives wasted on this idiotic exercise in futile nation-building is a crime.

"it is PATHETIC"

Yeah, well, it is WAY BETTER THAN HAVING THE TALIBAN RUNNING EVERYTHING.

WilliB: "OK. Dog and pony, or sky-blue Burkha and goat. Whatever. In any case, it is PATHETIC, and any more Western lives wasted on this idiotic exercise in futile nation-building is a crime."

While I don't agree with your rhetoric, I agree with the sentiment that foreign troops should not be there. However, the US backed by UN nations made the decision to go in and stay, so they cannot simply up and leave the Afghans to their slaughter. I kind of think, unfortunately, it's inevitable, but I pray I am wrong in that.

sarge: "Yeah, well, it is WAY BETTER THAN HAVING THE TALIBAN RUNNING EVERYTHING."

Pretty much anything has got to be better than the Taliban, but again, unfortunately, they're likely to be back in power before too long, and probably with Karzai's blessing (well, once the US leaves/is overpowered and Karzai flip-flops). If humanity survives the next few hundred years it's possible Afghanistan might one day be a stable nation, but until then...

It's kind of hard to have a fair vote when 12% of the polling stations, mostly in Pashtun areas, have been closed.

Obama voted for them - like the autocrat he is - when he set and publicly declared a date for our departure from Afghanistan. Why vote? Why join the police or army forces? Why improve your country or even your own lot?

Sarge:

" Yeah, well, it is WAY BETTER THAN HAVING THE TALIBAN RUNNING EVERYTHING. "

They will be back anyway running things in a year from now, so every Western live wasted between then and now is a CRIME that Western politicians should answer for.

Rather than chasing impossible dreams in the Hindukush, they should address the growing threat of radical islam at home in their backyards.