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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Afghan Election Hailed a Loss for Taliban |
| 2004-10-10 |
| The Taliban vowed to turn the Afghan election into a day of bloodshed, but the rebels mounted only a smattering of small-scale attacks on police and civilians and a larger clash that left many of their own dead. After months of what proved to be empty threats, military commanders and ordinary Afghans said Sunday the vote was a serious setback for the holdouts of the hard-line Islamic regime that was driven from power by U.S. bombs almost three years ago for harboring Osama bin Laden. "Yesterday was a big defeat for the Taliban and a huge defeat for al-Qaida," Lt. Gen. David Barno, the top American commander in Afghanistan, told The Associated Press. "It shows that the political process is overwhelming any influence they may have." Voters also said the Taliban had been exposed as weak. Bismillah Jan, a driver for an aid group in this southern city, where the Taliban began, said his fear of attacks on Saturday quickly disappeared when he saw the heavy security on the way to the polling station where the atmosphere "was like a festival." "This government has the support of the world and the help of God," said the 20-year-old, who recently returned home after a spell as a refugee in Pakistan. "The Taliban are weak and they are fading day by day." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 ...but the rebels mounted only a smattering of small-scale attacks on police and civilians and a larger clash that left many of their own dead. Maybe the Afghanis ought to put a notice about a "do-over" vote at a few polling stations. Then lie in wait when the Talibs show up. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-10-10 10:19:03 PM |