Afghanistan’s Election Is About Obama’s War
Aug 20, 2009 Long March
The Daily Beast
The stakes in Thursday’s Afghan election are much higher than who’ll be elected president, says Bruce Riedel—it’s also a referendum on Obama’s war, the Taliban’s strength, and even Pakistan’s allegiance.
Thursday’s election in Afghanistan is a critical early test of America’s new strategy in the war. It is a crucial challenge and opportunity for the United States, NATO, and our other allies, as well as the Afghan national government and army. Yet it is also a challenge and opportunity for the Taliban and al Qaeda. The stakes are much higher than who will be elected president of Afghanistan for the next five years.
The United States and NATO have had more than six months to prepare for Thursday. Additional troops from the U.S., U.K., and other allies have been sent to Afghanistan to help ensure a credible election day with the minimum possible violence and intimidation. Major campaigns have been launched to try to open parts of the country, like Helmand Province, from the grip of the Taliban to allow voting. The challenge is to pull off an election that has sufficient voter turnout in spite of the Taliban’s threats to be credible. An army of international observers and the media will be on hand to witness.
The opportunity is also present for a second chance. If the elections come off, despite violence and threats, and if the Afghan people judge them to be reasonably credible—not necessarily entirely free and fair, but legitimate and credible—the Afghan government and the NATO mission will have gotten an important boost of confidence and legitimacy they badly need. After almost eight years of drift, a newly elected government that is seen as legitimate offers a chance for President Obama’s strategy to go forward with an Afghan buy-in.
In NATO’s capitals an election also will buy time with European, Canadian, and American constituencies that are growing war weary. Politicians on both sides of the Atlantic will be able to point to something tangible as a sign of progress.
For Mullah Omar and the Taliban, the election is a chance to prove their strength and show who controls what parts of the country. The Taliban leader has promised to cut off the fingers of those who vote, and his fighters are trying to assassinate candidates, intimidate voters, and disrupt the process. Five years ago, Omar also denounced the election, but he was largely powerless to affect it. Now he will show his power.
But the Taliban also is challenged. It needs to show it is not just a Pashtun insurgency and that it can operate on a national scale like the Mujahideen operated when they fought the Soviets in the 1980s. This means disrupting the process in Tajik, Uzbek, and Hazari Shia towns and villages, not just in the Pashtun south and east.
The good news is this election has become a horse race. Six months ago it looked like President Hamid Karzai was going to coast to re-election. None of his opponents looked capable of a real challenge; indeed, it looked more like a coronation than an election. Karzai may still win in the first round, but Abdullah Abdullah and other candidates have given him a run for it. That alone should help make this election more credible. If there is a second-round runoff, all bets are off.
Tags: Afghan poll, afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, obama, taliban, US
Pakistanis Celeberating on restoration of CJ MSNBC
Mar 17, 2009 Long March
Visit msnbc.com
Tags: lawyers movement, Long March, pakistan politics, zardari
Lawyers,Civil Society and Media Rejoice Over Restoration of Chief Justice
Mar 17, 2009 Long March
ISLAMABAD  It was a day of rejoicing, of drum playing, and of smiling at strangers. Pakistan’s chief justice had just been reinstated after a two-year struggle, and for those assembled in the country’s capital to celebrate, anything seemed possible. “We’re watching history,†said Javed Ali Khan, a 45-year-old who had traveled for days with his wife and six children to participate in a national march of lawyers and opposition political parties that came to an abrupt end on Monday when the lawyers demands were met. Samir Ali, 3, was sitting atop his father’s shoulders, waving a tiny Pakistani flag. “We are so happy,†said his father, a taxi driver, grinning and gesturingat his son. “See his face? He’s happy too.â€Â
The crowd seemed to have a life of its own. Noisy bands of celebrating lawyers swept through, playing drums and singing. Some brought flowers for Mr. Chaudhry. An old man sold spicy vegetable fritters; A boy passed a platter of fresh coconut.
They spoke excitedly about how the success of the march had made a break with Pakistan’s past, and how much had changed in the country in the last decade.
“From here, God willing, the fate of this nation will change,” Sharif said, using a microphone from inside his jeep in Gujranwala. “From here, a journey of development will start. From here, a revolution will come.”
Zardari’s democratic government has been in power for a year but he had resisted reinstating the former chief justice, fearing he would hound his government just as Musharraf’s administration was challenged by the judiciary.
“It is certainly a defining moment,” said Munir Malik, a lawyers’ leader. “We’ve come a long way. This is just the beginning.”
“The feudal system, it was in the past,†said Mazhar Iqbal, a private school manager. “There was no media then. No education. The poor were poor forever. Now is the time to wake up. It’s been 60 years and we’ve been wasting our time.â€Â
Aitzaz Ahsan has praised Media for its leading role in the restoration of deposed judges
Tags: GEO News, GEO to aise, lawyers movement, Long March, Pakistan, pakistan politics, restoration
Breaking: Pakistan Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry restored
Mar 16, 2009 Long March, News & Events
In a historic address to the nation, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani announced on Monday to restore the deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry
Tags: Gilani, Iftikhar ahmed, PM Gilani
Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry to be restored as Chief Justice of Pakistan
Mar 16, 2009 Long March, News & Events
TheNews
ISLAMABAD: In a golden moment in Pakistan’s history, the government has decided to restore the deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
The Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar told Geo news about the decision of Justice Iftikhar’s reinstatement. He told Geo news senior Analyst Kamran Khan that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had personally told him about Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s reinstatement.
PM to announce restoration of Justice Iftikhar in his address
Mar 16, 2009 Long March, News & Events
ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani will address to the nation today at 2am, Geo news has reported.
According to well-placed sources, an important meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and PM Gilani is underway at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Long March Supporter Indecent Naked Protest in Lahore, Pakistan
Mar 16, 2009 Long March
Indecent Protest in Lahore Long March caught on tape: Well This is how this supporter expresses his feelings and giving his message to Police and Government
Tags: lawyers movement, Long March
Long March Updates 15-March-2009
Mar 16, 2009 Long March
Reporters of Geo TV Reporting From Lahore during Long March – 1
Reporters of Geo TV Reporting From Lahore during Long March – 2
Tags: geo, GEO News, GPO Chowk, Lahore, lawyers movement, Long March, PML(N)
Lahore celebrates Long March, not Basant
Mar 15, 2009 Long March, Uncategorized, Zaid Hamid
A mass rally is presently marching on the roads of outskirts of provincial metropolis in the leadership of former Prime Minister and chief of Pakistan Muslim League Mian Nawaz Sharif. It is speculated that Nawaz will address the protesters at some point and will formally announce to commence the march towards Islamabad.
Meanwhile, the central rally of Long March has left the premises of Lahore High Court and now has started its journey towards Islamabad where the organizers have announced to stage sit-in till the restoration of all the deposed judges, including Chief Justice Iftkhar Muhammad Chaudhry who was sacked by former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf two years ago.
The number of people participating in the long march kept building up steadily and the caravan of hundreds turned into thousands.
The police seemed to have changed its strategy and decided to retreat upon seeing the ocean of people approaching.
Nawaz defies house arrest as long march begins
Long March Lahore March 15 2009
Tags: lawyers movement, Long March, Nawaz Sharif, pakistan politics, PML (N) Imran Khan, PPP
