Posted on 11/03/2004 11:36:20 AM PST by 4kevin
Afghanistan's transitional leader Hamid Karzai has won the war-shattered country's first-ever presidential election. the announcement came after a special panel endorsed the election results as free and fair. The United Nations-Afghan joint electoral commission has announced that interim leader Hamid Karzai is the winner of the October 9 presidential election in Afghanistan. It says Mr. Karzai has won more than 55 percent of the vote and no run-off vote will be needed. Chairman Zakeem Shah of the joint commission made the formal announcement in Kabul Wednesday. Mr. Shah said under the constitution Mr. Karzai has won the election and has become the first-ever elected president of Afghanistan. The announcement came after an U.N.-appointed panel completed its investigation of allegations of election irregularities.
(Excerpt) Read more at voanews.com ...
Congrats to the good people of Afghanistan.
Oh, by the way...this is the same country that was, not even 4 yrs ago, blowing off women's heads for leaving the house alone.
God bless America and Afghanistan. May we both prosper for many many years.
Well said, 4kevin.
Congratulations Hamid Karzai! (And I pray for his safety)
Talk about HARD WON BATTLES???? CONGRATULATIONS AFGHANISTAN!!! WOOO-HOOOOOOO!!!! YES YES YES! And great praise to American and coalition forces! THANK YOU.
High five!
How poetic that this comes on the day of President Bush's own triumph.
Two countries, worlds away, sharing the good news of liberty. For one, the clammy grip of socialism has been averted. For the other, the bright sky of freedom is a new dawn. For both, a fresh start.
...Can't help waxing poetic at times like this.
This is a big step, and worthy of praise. But to me, the real transition to democracy will be complete when the NEXT election is scheduled and held; if a real opposition party is allowed to be formed and campaign fairely; and the subsequent results are accepted by the people in power, even if it puts them out of power.
By opposition party, I mean any entity that wishes to use a legal democratic political process to gain power, not one that seeks to use violence, or the threat thereof, to gain power. Also, it has to accept the continuation of the democratic process, and not seek to destroy it once it comes into power.
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