Afghan Democracy's Tender Shoots

Presidential elections are a major test, but daunting challenges still remain.

Published August 19, 2009

As Afghanistan takes its next steps down the path of democracy tomorrow with its second presidential election, the world's fourth poorest nation will travel a road pockmarked with dangers and pitfalls equal in gravity to the explosive traps set by the Taliban to deter votes.

Eight years since the fall of the Taliban, Afghanistan's central government remains weak and corrupt, and the failure to develop...

To view the rest of this article, please choose one of the following:

OPTION 1 Subscriber Login Forget your password?	Email Password
OPTION 2 Subscribe to Embassy	Subscribe to the print and electronic editions and get instant access to Embassy online.