October 12, 2004
GOOD NEWS SLIGHTLY NOTED
Events in Afghanistan have taken a surprising turn, reports scowly Paul McGeough:
There was no proper international monitoring of the poll. Bodies such as the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe cast a pall on the propriety of the vote by announcing that they would not make formal declarations on its fairness.
However, encouraged by the turnout and the surprising lack of violence they are informally endorsing the process.
McGeough's endorsement is pending.
Posted by Tim Blair at October 12, 2004 03:33 AMDoubtless I'm reading too much in the tone of Afghanistan election reporting, but most of the stories I read are dying to use the word "disappointing" instead of "surprising" lack of violence.
Posted by: Steve in Houston at October 12, 2004 at 04:19 AMDarn those pesky Afghanis and their voting, making life harder for frowny Eurocrats trying to stop all this American imperialism.
Posted by: Sortelli at October 12, 2004 at 11:42 AMIt's also especially disappointing for him that Kharzai is hansomely beating daylight into second place. Bit difficult to discredit the election if there is no serious alternative to the man with a huge mandate.
He's got the same problem with the Australian election.
Posted by: Fool to Himself & Burden to Others at October 12, 2004 at 11:43 AMWhere exactly is McGeough hiding these days? I'm told Prime Minister Alawi's process server has a defamation writ ready to drop on him over his story concering the alleged Alawi shooting trip to Abu Ghrib.
Posted by: Lew at October 12, 2004 at 01:17 PMHmmm. So all those Afghan voters I heard chatting and smiling were actually saying "Up yours McGeough"...I simply must take more Dari lessons.
These people had a free and fair vote and it turns him into "Not Happy Paul". What a miserable excuse for a human being - to all but openly wish the first democratic election in Afghanistan's history to dissolve in blood to score a sneering political point. Bah.