TAJ AYUBI, In Afghanistan, Taking a Risk for Democracy - washingtonpost

Former senior U.N. official Peter W. Galbraith ["What I Saw at the Afghan Election," Outlook, Oct. 4] and some in the Western press are trying to act as judge, jury and executioner when dealing with Afghanistan's Aug. 20 national elections. The Afghan government and the United Nations have never denied that there were irregularities and instances of rigging, but it would be an exercise in futility for any party to deprive Afghans of their sovereign right to elect a leader, a right for which many sacrificed life and limb.
U.S. history offers its own parallel to what is happening in Afghanistan.
Abraham Lincoln didn't break with America's democratic tradition even during the Civil War; the presidential election of 1864 went ahead during a bloody period in which more than 600,000 soldiers and civilians died. Lincoln's aides were divided on the issue, and opponents favored postponing the election until its safe conduct and validity could be ensured.
A similar situation played out this year in Afghanistan when a host of President Hamid Karzai's aides and U.S. and U.N. officials vigorously attempted to persuade him to delay the elections until a more opportune time. Mr. Karzai remained steadfast, arguing that he would not go down in history as setting a precedent that would allow any future leader with good intent or ulterior motive to harm Afghanistan's democratic process. - In Afghanistan, Taking a Risk for Democracy
The writer is a political adviser to Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

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