Afghans deserve to give themselves a pat on the back after last week's election. True, it was far from perfect, and voter turnout was less than in the previous election, but this very first Afghan-led election was an accomplishment nonetheless.
Despite threats of violence (some of which were realized), Afghans turned out by the millions and voted, leaving the polling stations with the tell-tale index finger stained with silver nitrate, proclaiming for all the world to see that they had participated. Taliban had threatened to cut off these stained fingers, and vowed that one woman, a candidate for the provincial council, would be decapitated unless she withdrew her name from the ballot. (She did not.) One wonders how many Canadians would bother to vote if they had to face such threats, not to mention the odd rocket attack on a polling station.
