Has Afghanistan won its freedom as Bush claims....

[whistle]

...or is this another deception to get Bush re-elected:

<snip>

October 9, 2004
THE ROVING EYE
Hand it to the warlords
By Pepe Escobar

In May 2003, Taliban guerrillas were ripping in south and southeast Afghanistan, al-Qaeda was alive and kicking along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and President Hamid Karzai could barely enforce his writ outside of Kabul.

US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld flew to Kabul and declared "victory". It was a bluff. Just like it was in Iraq.

In October 2004, Taliban guerrillas are still ripping in the south and southeast, al-Qaeda, albeit with reduced numbers, is present along the border, and Karzai is still confined to Kabul - he even had to abort an election rally in Gardez for fear of attack, despite massive US security backup. Yet Karzai is already the virtual winner of Saturday's presidential elections.

US President George W Bush told the United Nations General Assembly last month that "the Afghan people are on the path to democracy and freedom". It was a bluff. Just like it was in Iraq.

<snip>

Bush needs Afghanistan as a "success" for only one reason: his own re-election campaign. In the real world, what will happen is that Dostum gets the Uzbek vote, Mohaqiq the Hazara vote and Qanooni the Tajik vote. Karzai will be their hostage - again. As for Taliban leader Mullah Omar, he is also voting. With guns.
<more>
<link> http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/FJ09Ag03.html

[Birthmark]

1. Afghanistan is the same mess it's been for ages.

It's not likely to change anytime soon, either, imo.

[Ducks In A Row]

2. I do know that when TV does a report on that country

and shows a street view, any women in view are covered head to toe. I thought bush said women had gotten rid of their veils?