Voting is now over for this year’s national elections in Afghanistan. To cover the voting, and the run up to the election, I have collected a list of media reports focused on Afghanistan’s 2009 election, along with relevant extracts from most of the items. Please see:
Afghanistan Elections 2009
In addition, at different points during the day on 20 August, articles from the international media concerning Afghanistan’s elections were posted to my Twitter feed, also streamed in the sidebar of this blog, and now included at the bottom of this post.
Also watch news videos of the Afghan election on:
OPEN ANTHROPOLOGY TV
or OA TV: election.
Live Twitter coverage provided by:
Live blog coverage provided by:
The NEW YORK TIMES’ “At War” blog
As a creature of U.S. imperial policy, these elections are what a number of scholars and commentators have called, or would call, “demonstration elections,” after Edward S. Herman and Frank Brodhead. In this post, more is provided in connection with the concept of demonstration election, including with specific reference to Afghanistan.
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Afghan Election Tweets
See also: #afghanelection, #afghanistanelection, #afghan09, and #Afghanistan
See also: partial list of Twitterers on the Afghan election
- Blog coverage for the 2009 elections. #Afghan09 #Afghanistan (http://blogsearch.google.ca/blogsearch?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=afghanistan+elections+2009&btnG=Search+Blogs)
- #Afghanelection “afghanistan elections 2009” #afghan09 (http://www.google.ca/#hl=en&safe=off&q=afghanistan+elections+2009&meta=&fp=1&cad=b)
- #Afghanelection see also Google’s “afghanistan elections” #afghan09 (http://www.google.ca/#hl=en&source=hp&q=afghanistan+elections&btnG=Google+Search&meta=&aq=f&fp=1&cad=b)
- OPEN ANTHRO TV: BBC NEWS | Afghan poll security ‘a success’: Nato’s secretary-general has sa.. http://openanthropology.vodspot.tv/watch/3243060-bbc-news-afghan-poll-security-a-success
- OPEN ANTHRO TV: BBC NEWS | Violence downplayed by BBC: Originally titling this video, ironic.. http://openanthropology.vodspot.tv/watch/3243044-bbc-news-violence-downplayed-by-bbc
- #Afghanelection “Analysis: Afghan vote shows Taliban still potent – AP” (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090820/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_us_afghanistan_analysis)
- OPEN ANTHRO TV: Ashraf Ghani for President (English): Added By: Max Forte Tags: afghanistan.. http://openanthropology.vodspot.tv/watch/3240889-ashraf-ghani-for-president-english
- OPEN ANTHRO TV: Dr. Abdullah’s Message to the Nation (English): Dr. Abdullah’s Message to th.. http://openanthropology.vodspot.tv/watch/3240881-dr-abdullahs-message-to-the-nation-english
- #Afghanelection “Latest Updates on Afghanistan’s Election – At War Blog – NYTimes.com” (http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/latest-updates-on-afghanistans-election/?hp)
- #Afghanelection “Rockets and Intimidation Deter Voters in the South – NYTimes.com” (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/world/asia/21sceneoppel.html?hp)
- #Afghanelection “Turnout Seen as Uneven in Afghanistan as Polls Close – NYTimes.com” (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/world/asia/21afghan.html?hp=&pagewanted=all)
- OPEN ANTHRO TV: Afghanistan – Man Demonstrates Voter Fraud: KABUL – This voter demonstrates .. http://openanthropology.vodspot.tv/watch/3240341-afghanistan-man-demonstrates-voter-fraud
- OPEN ANTHRO TV: AP Analysis: How the Afghan Vote Is Going: Associated Press reporter Bob Rei.. http://openanthropology.vodspot.tv/watch/3240307-ap-analysis-how-the-afghan-vote-is-going
- OPEN ANTHRO TV: Election day violence in Afghanistan – 20 Aug 09: Rockets landed almost ever.. http://openanthropology.vodspot.tv/watch/3240301-election-day-violence-in-afghanistan-20-aug-09
- OPEN ANTHRO TV: Low turnout in Afghanistan election: questionable credibility: France 24 Add.. http://openanthropology.vodspot.tv/watch/3240283-low-turnout-in-afghanistan-election-questionable-credibility
- OPEN ANTHRO TV: Low voter turnout rate in Afghanistan election – RT 082009: http://openanthropology.vodspot.tv/watch/3240266-low-voter-turnout-rate-in-afghanistan-election-rt-082009
- #Afghanelection “YouTube – ‘Votes for sale’ in Afghan election” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGSaDDJLXTo)
- #Afghanelection “Op-Ed Contributor – Phantoms at the Polls – NYTimes.com” (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/opinion/18atif.html)
- #Afghanelection Election as a “mere formality”, accompanies “cosmetic development” (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/opinion/18sherjan.html)
- #Afghanelection “Flickr: United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan’s Photostream” (http://www.flickr.com/photos/unama/)
- #Afghanelection “Op-Ed Contributors – As Afghanistan Votes, Will the Taliban Win? – NYTimes.com” (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/opinion/18Afghan-intro.html?_r=2&ref=global)
- RT @strickvl Wondering whether Britney Spears is going to vote in Kandahar today…http://www.afpax.com/index.php/post/7751/A_Nightmare_Scenario_for_Afghanistan and http://www.afpax.com/index.php/post/7763/AfPaxs_Britney_Scoop_Prompts_Media_Madness
- RT @strickvl ‘now the campaign starts’ say kandaharis as they start scrubbing ‘indelible’ ink from their fingers..
- RT @strickvl Half an hour to go till end of elections. Really low turnout all round..
- RT @strickvl RT @W7VOA: AFP: Taliban set ablaze 3 polling stations in Herat, destroying ballots. #afghanelection
- RT @strickvl RT @ashrafghani: The fraud in Kandahar has been confirmed by other reliable sources too now. Boxes will come full for Karzai.
- RT @strickvl RT @pajhwok: Uruzgan poll worker: In 2004, had 5500 voters in one station; today, only 1900 #Afghanelection #afghan09
- RT @strickvl RT @W7VOA: Karzai: There were 73 attacks today. #afghanelection
- OPEN ANTHRO TV: Afghanistan election interactive: who will vote for whom? | World news | guardian.. http://openanthropology.vodspot.tv/watch/3237955-afghanistan-election-interactive-who-will-vote-for-whom-world-news-guardian-co-uk
- OPEN ANTHRO TV: Afghanistan election drives: ‘Men have destroyed the country’ | World news | guar.. http://openanthropology.vodspot.tv/watch/3237954-afghanistan-election-drives-men-have-destroyed-the-country-world-news-guardian-co-uk
- OPEN ANTHRO TV: Afghan election drives: ‘Mr Karzai is the best candidate’ | World news | guardian.. http://openanthropology.vodspot.tv/watch/3237924-afghan-election-drives-mr-karzai-is-the-best-candidate-world-news-guardian-co-uk
- “OPEN ANTHRO TV: Afghan election drives: ‘I’ll be voting Taliban’ | World news | guardian.co.uk:.. http://openanthropology.vodspot.tv/watch/3237892-afghan-election-drives-ill-be-voting-taliban-world-news-guardian-co-uk“
- “OPEN ANTHRO TV: Video: Afghan voters turn out at the polls | World news | guardian.co.uk: A.. http://openanthropology.vodspot.tv/watch/3237882-video-afghan-voters-turn-out-at-the-polls-world-news-guardian-co-uk“
- #Afghanelection Illegal voter registration card for a minor shown by CNN. #Afghan09 (http://twitpic.com/ekm7j)
- Media played role in encouraging voter turnout, most respecting Govt’s unconstitutional ban on reporting violence #Afghanelection
- Polls closed in #Afghanelection. BBC speaks of “reports of fraud galore” #Afghan09
- #Afghanistan “#Afghanelection | Demotix.com” Photos from the day (http://www.demotix.com/afghanelection)
- #Afghanistan “#Afghanelection marred by violence and fears of voter fraud | World news | guardian.co.uk” (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/20/afghan-election-violence-fraud)
- #Afghanelection “Afghanistan election ink safeguard fails detergent test | World news | guardian.co.uk” (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/20/afghanistan-election-ink)
- #Afghanelection “Afghanistan election interactive: who will vote for whom? | World news | guardian.co.uk” (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2009/aug/19/afghanistan-taliban)
- #Afghanelection “Afghan election drives: ‘I’ll be voting Taliban’ | guardian.co.uk” #Afghan09 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/aug/17/afghanistan-elections-taliban)
- #Afghanistan “Despite Panther’s Claw, many presidential ballot boxes will not open – Times Online” #Afghan09 (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6801217.ece)
- #Afghanistan “Today’s #Afghanelection is a moment of truth for zealous liberal aggressors | The Guardian” (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/aug/19/afghan-election-taliban-rumsfeld-intervention)
- #Afghanistan “Rockets hit Kunduz polling centre – Pajhwok Afghan News” #Afghanelection (http://www.pajhwok.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=80165)
- #Afghanistan “31 stations stay shut in Paktia – Pajhwok Afghan News” #Afghanelection (http://www.pajhwok.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=80159)
- #Afghanistan “Tribal leaders accuse Hamid Karzai supporters of offering bribes – Telegraph” #Afghanelection (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/6056330/Tribal-leaders-accuse-Hamid-Karzai-supporters-of-offering-bribes.html)
- “#Afghanelection: police fight gun battle with Taliban after voting begins – Telegraph” (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/6059583/Afghanistan-election-police-fight-gun-battle-with-Taliban-after-voting-begins.html)
- #Afghanistan “CBCNews.ca” Video on #Afghanelection (http://www.cbc.ca/crossroads-afghanistan/)
- #Afghanistan “Premiers incidents de la journée électorale afghane – Le Monde.fr” #Afghanelection (http://www.lemonde.fr/asie-pacifique/article/2009/08/20/l-afghanistan-aux-urnes-dans-un-calme-relatif_1230083_3216.html#ens_id=1228393)
- #Afghanistan “Turnout appears low as Afghans vote for president – washingtonpost.com” #Afghanelection (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/19/AR2009081900193.html?hpid=topnews)
- RT @guardiannews Follow news on today’s #Afghanelection on our live blog http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2009/aug/19/afghanistan-hamid-karzai or #Afghanistan page http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/afghanistan
- “BBC NEWS | Taliban’s view of Afghan polls” #Afghanelection #afghan09 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8210707.stm)
- #Afghanistan “BBC NEWS | Technology | Web tool oversees #Afghanelection” #afghan09 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8209172.stm)
- #Afghanistan “BBC | LIVE coverage: #Afghanelection 2009” #afghan09 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8209279.stm)
- RT @MichaelLee2009 Fraud and corruption in #afghanelection http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8206469.stm #aghan09 #Afghanistan
- “Taliban Attacks Set Stage for a Tense Afghan Vote – WSJ.com” #afghanelection #afghan09 (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125074916908145527.html)
- Slideshow of voters in Afghanistan: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/08/20/world/20090820-AFGHAN_6.html
- RT @jeromestarkey Taliban shadow government alive and well in polling day http://www.jeromestarkey.com/post/167039941/afghans-go-to-polls-if-the-taleban-let-them #afghan09 #afghanelection
- #Afghanistan “Turnout appears low as Afghans vote for president – AP” #Afghanelection (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090820/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan)
- RT @AJEnglish Afghans vote amid security fears http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/08/2009820254231266.html #Afghanistan #Afghanelection
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Open Anthropology was listed in first place for Google search results of blogs covering “Afghanistan elections 2009,” and was on the front page of all search results for “Afghanistan elections” and “Afghanistan elections 2009.”
ZERO ANTHROPOLOGY 
Election Fraud
I don’t know that I buy into the whole “demonstration elections” thing, but the hand of our current government is easily seen in the inept way fraud was carried out in the Afghan election this time around. I firmly believe that even if the results were verified to be 100 to 1 against the current winner, it would have been awarded to him anyways.
Maximilian Forte
I would tend to agree with you on these points, and we can see some evidence for them. However, a demonstration election performs a counterinsurgency role as well, and one of the persistent themes to be repeated during and after these elections has been about “stabilization” against the forces of the Taleban. The elections are defended in terms of the war against the Taleban, rather than the achievement of a meaningful democracy. So the idea of “success” is built on seeing a turnout inspite of Taleban attacks, of “voters defying the Taleban,” and so forth.