[img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/72702000/jpg/_72702883_0sa0g8lf.jpg[/img]
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26007023[/url]
[quote]The campaign for Afghanistan's presidential election has been formally launched, with rallies for key candidates in the capital, Kabul.
The election is scheduled to take place on 5 April.
There are 11 candidates to replace Hamid Karzai, who cannot stand again.
Security is the major issue, with the Taliban threatening to target the campaign. Two workers for candidate Abdullah Abdullah were shot dead in the western city of Herat on Saturday.[/quote]
Will it really matter though?
I read 'Race to eject'.
Are any women running?
Now it's time to see which candidate is best at electoral fraud
I thought it would be a literal race :/
[QUOTE=Daniel Smith;43760211]Now it's time to see which candidate is best at electoral fraud[/QUOTE]
At this point the candidate list is probably the Taliban's hit list.
It's a shame what's happened to Afghanistan. My dad had been to Herat in the seventies and he described it like a real life version of Agrabah. I still hope that I can visit the place during my lifetime.
[QUOTE=snookypookums;43760273]
It's a shame what's happened to Afghanistan. My dad had been to Herat in the seventies and he described it like a real life version of Agrabah. I still hope that I can visit the place during my lifetime.[/QUOTE]
Iran too, for that matter. It used to be pretty much the most awesome country, then suddenly, bam, theocracy and cute-but-insane presidents and oppression out the ass!
[QUOTE=tr00per7;43760194]Are any women running?[/QUOTE]
No, it's the first presidential election where no women have run. [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fawzia_Koofi]Fawzia Koofi[/url] wanted to run but the minimum age is 40 and she's 39. She now hopes to run in 2019.
[QUOTE=smurfy;43760325]No, it's the first presidential election where no women have run. [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fawzia_Koofi]Fawzia Koofi[/url] wanted to run but the minimum age is 40 and she's 39. She now hopes to run in 2019.[/QUOTE]
What a load of horseshit.
Ha, "elect".
any elects going for the clean shaven look?
[editline]2nd February 2014[/editline]
not likely
[QUOTE=AK'z;43760901]any elects going for the clean shaven look?
[editline]2nd February 2014[/editline]
not likely[/QUOTE]
None of the current frontrunners have any major beardage
Abdullah Abdullah:
[img]http://imgkk.com/i/b3v5.jpg[/img]
Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai:
[img]http://imgkk.com/i/u5xn.jpg[/img]
Qayum Karzai:
[t]http://imgkk.com/i/97x6.jpg[/t]
[QUOTE=smurfy;43761030]
Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai:
[img]http://imgkk.com/i/u5xn.jpg[/img]
[/QUOTE]
dat ass
[editline]2nd February 2014[/editline]
chin
[T]http://imgkk.com/i/b3v5.jpg[/t]
Not sure if meeming.....or if just sunny
I wonder if ISI is gonna bank roll the Taliban to retake Afghanistan. Seems like it'd be a good strategic move on their part and the task isn't insurmountable.
[QUOTE=Riller;43760300]Iran too, for that matter. It used to be pretty much the most awesome country, then suddenly, bam, theocracy and cute-but-insane presidents and oppression out the ass![/QUOTE]
Well at least Rouhani is (trying) to make it somewhat better?
They'll be the president of Kabul and nothing else. The capitals power doesn't extend to the outer provinces let alone anywhere near the border with Pakistan
[QUOTE=Riller;43760300]Iran too, for that matter. It used to be pretty much the most awesome country, then suddenly, bam, theocracy and cute-but-insane presidents and oppression out the ass![/QUOTE]
Well, there was the oppressive absolute monarchial dictatorship lead by a crazy shah before the theocracy too so it's been a while since it has been "the most awesome country". Also while the Islamic Republic isn't great, since then the mortality rate has decreased, life expectancy is higher, human development is higher, 90 percent of Iranians have access to basic healthcare, clean water, electricities, and educations while development was completely stagnant under the shah. To add to that, gender equality isn't as horrible as you would think with 2007 having 70 percent of Iran's science and engineering students being women (however, in 2012, they restricted what degrees women can get so it's a step backwards in that regard).
[editline]3rd February 2014[/editline]
As far as the elections in Afghanistan goes, the new president will probably be safe from the Taliban what with the US agreeing to keep 10,000 troops there. Very hard to see what will come out of a new president and what they will be able to accomplish in such a corrupt and extremist environment. However, if he has enough passion and love for his country (which I would hardly say about Karzai who seems more anxious to save his own skin while retaining face) then anything is possible.
eh i wouldn't say life expectancy has increased in iran... i mean in 1984 the average life expectancy for an adult male was like 19, which has lead to a massive generation and gender gap which is propelling the internal turmoil that they are dealing with today
[editline]3rd February 2014[/editline]
the next president however will have to decide the future direction of afghanistan's forign policy. will they continue to work with the U.S. or will they move towards Russia, what amount of foreign aid will he allow in the country and how will he aid/harm the war on terror?
these are all problems that won't be an issue in the upcomming election however, maybe the U.S./Russia thing but i doubt it would even come up
[QUOTE=maxumym;43760270]I thought it would be a literal race :/[/QUOTE]
That only happens in [I]Iran[/I]
This is pretty important to the US as well, as it will probably mean the difference between a lasting troop presence past 2014. The current government refuses to allow the US to stay after 2014, so most are just waiting until they are out of office to propose the idea of the peacekeepers staying longer.
Prepare for sad news reports of civilians having their ears, nose or hands cut off by taliban because they dont want anyone to participate
[QUOTE=Sableye;43773539]eh i wouldn't say life expectancy has increased in iran... i mean in 1984 the average life expectancy for an adult male was like 19, which has lead to a massive generation and gender gap which is propelling the internal turmoil that they are dealing with today[/QUOTE]
Actually, the average life expectancy during the Shah's last year of rule was 55 (with it starting off at 49 at the first year of his rule). After the revolution, we do see that life expectancy drop by about one year and stay around that area until 1986 (btw the average life expectancy in 1984 was about 54.5 which is nowhere close to 19) where it started increasing rapidly, peaking currently 73. Of course, there still is a gender gap which I won't disagree with. However, there tends to be a view, especially among young secular Iranians who didn't have to live under the shah, that things were better as a monarchy but it's really just a bunch of historical revisionism. Not to sound like an apologist but things really are better now in Iran and it looks like it only will get better.
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