Afghan Elections 2014

[Aria2013]

Afghans went to the polls this week to choose a successor to President Karzai in elections seen by many as a benchmark of progress since the demise of the Taliban in 2001. Despite militant attacks and threats made by the Taliban, young and old, men and women lined up at registration centers to get voting cards so they can cast their vote on Election Day. It is great to see Afghans exercise their democratic rights as many felt they had a responsibility to help determine their country’s future. We congratulate all Afghans on this accomplishment, including the Afghan National Security Forces who ensured that Afghans throughout the country had largely peaceful elections.

Do you think people’s strong determination to vote has made a difference in the 2014 Presidential and Provincial elections?

Aria2013,
Digital Engagement Team - USCENTCOM

[Badlun]

Yes. All conspiracies theories failed. USA or foreign powers cannot compel or stop each and every Afghan to vote or not to vote. On election day each Afghan felt free and decided on his/her own. This is highly appreciable. This is a slap on the face of Taliban and those who oppose democracy.

This is the indication that Afghan people want democracy because at the risk of their lives they thronged the polling booths. I salute to the Afghan nation. they are simply superb. Casting a vote in Afghanistan is not the same as in a developed democratic country. casting vote in Afghanistan means you may lose your life on that day. International community must reward Afghans for their courage and sacrifices.

[Aria2013]

Indeed the election in Afghanistan has delivered a strong message both at home and abroad as this article in the the Economist expresses.

A Gesture of Difiance

http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21600745-election-afghanistan-has-delivered-powerful-message-home-and-abroad-gesture?fsrc=scn%2Ftw_ec%2Fa_gesture_of_defiance

aria2013
Digital Engagment Team - US CENTCOM

[Tjanaparh]

International community must reward Afghans for their courage and sacrifices.

Unfortunately very people stand alone with their pain in front of the international community. If the international community hadn't been, do you think there would have been all this fears, tears and lost lifes ?
From whom you seek reward dear friend ?
The best reward Afghans can get when they finally unite and leave all idologies building their home, is the respect of good hearted people, who will say "respect to these strong people, who resisted every pain and evil, that international community has done to them"

[Badlun]

Unfortunately very people stand alone with their pain in front of the international community. If the international community hadn't been, do you think there would have been all this fears, tears and lost lifes ?
From whom you seek reward dear friend ?
The best reward Afghans can get when they finally unite and leave all idologies building their home, is the respect of good hearted people, who will say "respect to these strong people, who resisted every pain and evil, that international community has done to them"

You cannot remain isolated from the international community in this global village. If you are at war or no, you need other countries. Afghanistan was not a paradise before the presence of international community and now it has a chance to capitalize on the presence of donors, importers, exporters, investors to promote economy and life standards. Learn from Japan when it was destroyed after WW2.

You have to decide between Taliban and NATO. The ideal scenario is neither Taliban nor NATO but if you cannot do alone, you need others to fight against the same enemy.

[Tjanaparh]

You cannot remain isolated from the international community in this global village. If you are at war or no, you need other countries. Afghanistan was not a paradise before the presence of international community and now it has a chance to capitalize on the presence of donors, importers, exporters, investors to promote economy and life standards. Learn from Japan when it was destroyed after WW2.

You have to decide between Taliban and NATO. The ideal scenario is neither Taliban nor NATO but if you cannot do alone, you need others to fight against the same enemy.

Agreed, you difficultly isolate yourself completely in this world, as all is in balance. But being isolated and jumping into dependence are different things. I know Afghanistan wasn't a paradise. But I think you underestimate your own capacities. You could give and make something much better of your home then a state under the shaddow of accepting everything from its masters and being on payroll.
Take all this conflict on a personal level. If you meet me, and i am a power hungry evil person, I destroy your family, but do it in a very cunning way, later I offer you help to create a new family if you make some work for me and follow my way of doing buisness. Will you agree and follow my way and be thankful to me ?

A family is a very small unit of society, but society is based on thousands of such units. Basically the sense off all comes to a logic like - "I should thank the killers of my brothers of yesterday, cause in change they teach and finance me to get finally a higher living standard and pay me so that i can afford a computer today". That is what it would be on family level.
The international community is not just based of states like USA, EU or RUssia, the majority of states completely neglected, are actually the international community. They are not all countries with a bloody civil war and war past. Some follow the same democracy system that you actually like, but their life isn't easy same way and is same way under a big pressure, specially because those that form the "international community of exporters of democracy" aren't intrested and are even against the peaceful processes in the real international community. And they are not simply against, they interfere to destroy rhe peace in those places. And they didn't do that only in the past.

[Aria2013]

ANSF gains people's support

Despite a hike in suicide attacks leading up to the elections and the threats made by the Taliban to disrupt the election process, Afghan forces demonstrated significant ability to foil attacks and provide security to voters throughout the country. Security forces were responsible for protecting 6212 polling stations on Election Day, of which, only 211 centers ended up being closed. In Kandahar, which saw 30 bombings during the 2009 election, there was not a single attack reported at any of the polling centers. And soon after polls were closed, officials from the Independent Elections Commission, Afghanistan’s top security institutions and a number of Presidential candidates all praised the security forces, and their success story immediately spread through social media. Afghan National Security Forces not only proved their capability on providing security for the nation but also gained the trust and support of Afghan citizens around the country. We congratulate them on this accomplishment.

How would you evaluate the success of the Afghan National Security Forces during the elections?

aria2013
Digital Engagement Team – US CENTCOM