Airstrip One

Democracy? Pah

Afghanistan is holding a Loya Jirga, which is like a constitutional convention where as many of the parties as possible are represented. Unfortunately it's been held up for a day. Why? Although the official reason is logistics, it seems that the real reason is that there has been a tussle over whether the head of state would be the more Pashtun friendly (although not a fan of Pakistan, still not a fan of India) king Mohammad Zaher Shah or the Northern Alliance puppet (and therefore Russian and Indian controlled) Hamid Karzai.

Now its not the geopolitical implications that interest me, but the idea that the fight in the Hindu Kush had anything to do with democracy. To repeat, the loya jirga was postponed on Western advice so that only one candidate would be present. It may be sensible for us, or even for the Afghans, but let's stop all this rubbish about it being democratic.