US senator hopes Iraq vote will follow peaceful Afghan example (Frist)

[Barrett808]

US Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said he hoped Iraq would follow in Afghanistan's footsteps and hold a peaceful election later this month to steer itself towards democracy.

"We are very hopeful that those elections will, as they did here in Afghanistan not too long ago... legitimate that road to full democracy," Frist said at a press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul.

Millions of Afghans went to the polls in the country's first free elections on October 9 last year, handing Karzai a landslide victory. Iraqi elections are scheduled for January 30.

Frist, who travelled to meet Karzai along with Senator Mitch McConnell, Senator Norm Coleman and Senator Mike DeWine, said the US would maintain a long-term presence in Afghanistan.

"We will in the future be a continued reliable partner, (and a) long-term partner," Frist said.

"Afghanistan in many ways was freedom and democracy's first victory in the war on terror and for that we are much appreciative," he added.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/afp/20050112/pl_afp/afghanistanusiraq

[aden_nak]

1. Hoping Iraq will turn out peacefully is a cornerstone of GOP policy.

[warrens]

2. Snicker

Not a chance, you nitwit. Not a chance.

[zbdent]

3. Are the women in the US military allowed to remove their burkas yet?

Isn't that where they're still required?

[bowens43]

4. Does Frist know that outside the city of Kabul

the Taliban, drug lords and war lords are in control? Does he know that Bin Laden is still free? Does he know that Al Qaeda is still active?

How exactly is this a victory for freedom, democracy and the war on terror?

[Magleetis]

5. How do these idiots

get elected. Iraq is lost. One day they will have to face reality.

[Redstone]

6. Afghanistan? Peaceful?

Just like, say, Yemen is open, modern, and forward-looking.

I bet the tour operators are inundated with people wanting to take a vacation in Peaceful Afghanistan, the new Enchanted Kingdom.

Methinks ol' Billy Boy Frist done been samplin' the first-class opium they produce there in Afghanistan.

Redstone

[ixion]

7. yep...

that's my thinkin', too.

[stray cat]

8. We all can hope - reality looks a little less promising

I heard something about insurgent snipers being utilized throughout the country to shoot voters. Can anyone confirm similar threats?

[rkc3]

9. Yes Bill, and someday all of our votes will be counted.

[madrchsod]

10. just what world do these people live in?

afghanistan is a democracy? tell that to the warlords that have controlled this land for thousands of years. so america frees the afghans and presto-changeo the warlords no longer exist? so if the iraq`s have freedom the tribes and the religous factions that have ruled iraq for thousands of years are going away? poof! they`re gone???? just what world do they live in?

[MichiganVote]

11. Bill Frist has had too much pixie dust. Another global jerk