Afghanistan's eclectic politicians face the voters Sunday

NY Times:

Warlords, drug lords, and former Communist and Taliban officials are joining professors, businessmen and poets as candidates in Afghanistan's first parliamentary elections in 35 years on Sunday.

Amid scattered - and in some places intense - violence by opponents of the American-backed elections and government, 12.4 million Afghans are expected to choose from 5,800 candidates in what is widely seen as the next stage of the country's move to greater democracy from war and repression.

The candidates have a wide range of agendas, motives and history, reflecting the country's recent troubles - but also its traditions.


The vote is only the beginning of their adventure in democracy. The US has given them an opportunity. It is up to the people of Afghanistan to seize the opportunity and make something of it. If they do not, it will be their failure, not that of the US.

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