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On November 2, Americans will go to the polls to cast their vote for President. It is a process our nation has participated in for over 200 years. The United States has held a Presidential election every four years since 1789-- throughout every war in history and even during our country's own Civil War. Elections are a staple of a democratic and free society. This year the Afghan people had the opportunity to vote for the first time. After more than two decades of war, the election process offered hope to the Afghan people. The polls were a sign that security instead of violence was in their future. The election on October 9 was a historic occasion in Afghanistan. It showed the world that Muslim societies could also be democratic societies.
Afghanistan, just a couple of years ago, was infested with terrorism and tyranny. Now it is on the path toward becoming a free nation. The Afghan people are showing extraordinary courage under difficult conditions. A draft constitution was distributed throughout Afghanistan in 2003, and Afghans from all walks of life joined the official constitutional debate. In the autumn of 2003, meetings were held at the local and provincial levels to select delegates for the Loya Jirga meeting in December to debate the draft and adopt the new constitution. The Constitutional Loya Jirga convened on December 14, 2003, and after three weeks of debate, negotiation, and compromise, it approved a new constitution on January 4, 2004. The constitution establishes a democracy with an executive branch and a bicameral legislature. The lower house will be chosen by direct elections, while the upper house will be evenly divided between representatives selected by provisional councils, representatives selected by district councils, and presidential appointees. Checks and balances exist between the branches of government.
Interim President Karzai signed a new electoral law on May 25, 2004. According to the United Nations, more than 10 million Afghans have registered to vote in spite of the uncertain security that was predicted around some polling sites. Forty-one percent of registered voters were women. There were 18 presidential candidates, including one female candidate that ran in the election. Polling took place at some 22,000 polling stations throughout Afghanistan, as well as in Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan and Iran. Instead of being intimidated by threats of violence, villagers walked for miles to the nearest voting station to vote for democracy. The news out of Afghanistan, was a psychological defeat for the Taliban and a moral victory for the Afghan people. Hamid Karzi was the clear winner of the election with 55.3 percent of the vote with over 94.3 percent of the votes counted.
"This is one of the happiest days of my life. I don't even care who wins. I just want peace and security and to live long enough to come and vote again in five years' time." --Sangi Khanum, an elderly Afghan woman, The Times (London), 10/11/2004
"In the whole history of Afghanistan this is the first time we come and choose our leader in democratic process and free condition. I feel very proud and I feel very happy." --Muhammad Amin Aslami, a Tajik, The New York Times, 10/10/2004
Because of the United States Forces in Afghanistan working with the Coalition Forces and the Afghan Army, the country is on a path toward self-governance and democracy. I had the opportunity to witness our troops success recently on a trip to Afghanistan; they have truly helped transform that country. The Afghan people have now tasted democracy and I know that they will continue to fight for it. They will remember with gratitude the brave American soldiers who gave them their freedom. |
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