Suspend Your Disbelief

In the November 7th-13th issue of The Economist, an article on Karzai's victory in the run for president was published, citing the mass involvement of the Western powers to place him there. Going against democracy, the West is forcing it upon the Afghans, electing a president for them is not the same as giving them the choice to do so. What point is there if the Afghan people are allowed to vote, only to turn around and say their votes don't count at all. Many politicians already spoke of Karzai's victory before it happened, citing their support and ignoring the other candidate, Abdullah Abdullah, who actually stood a chance at winning if he had not been forced to bow out of the second round.

"Other diplomats declared that the 48.2% of the vote Mr Karzai won both matched what opinion polls predicted and was good enough mandate to run the country for the next five years."

While President Obama claims Mr Karzai won in accordance with Afghan law, one cannot help but wonder if cheating, threats, and thousands of fraudulant votes count as "the accordances of Aghan law". To stay inside the loop of chaos and war, the Taliban gleefully claimed that the election had been decided in Washington and London--an observation that did not go unnoticed with the voters and population of Afghanistan.

"Days before Dr Abdullah threw in the towel, a Western diplomat said 'we are already looking forward to Mr Karzai's inauguration speech' ".

Ignoring fraudulant votes, the American's and their allies are planning on--and already have--used Karzai as their puppet in the middle-east to begin the movement towards democracy in their favour. I strongly believe that while the Afghans are willing to accept democracy, I don't believe that the Americans and the West need to force their policies and puppets on the people; they are clearly ready for change but instead of aiding them in their fight against internal forces hoping to keep democracy at bay, they are forcing upon the people their ways and leaders--echoing the past where the White Man claimed countries for themselves and any natives living there were forced to assimilate.

It's not just a clash of civilizations, but more of a conflict of common human values, where change will come, but patience is required on the part of the Americans and the West.