Taliban Tries to Sow Chaos before Election

(CBS)  No matter who wins the presidential election in Afghanistan tomorrow, the U.S. expects changes from the Afghan government - first and foremost, more help fighting the insurgents.

But as CBS News correspondent David Martin reports, the election has given the Taliban new incentive to throw the country into chaos.

With the election looming, the Taliban have increased their number of attacks from 32 a day to 48.

In Kabul, a suicide bomber tried to crash his car into a NATO convoy, killing seven Afghans and two U.N. workers. The Taliban can sow mayhem but a senior NATO officer insists 48 attacks can not shut down 6,500 polling places.

"Clearly, they do not have the capacity to intimidate and prevent 15 million afghan voters that have registered to vote for this election," said Brigadier Gen. Eric Tremblay, a NATO spokesman in Afghanistan.

(Read more about the U.S. military operations in Afghanistan ahead of the voting from CBS News correspondent Lara Logan.)

But Mandy Clarke, who is covering the election for CBS News in Kabul, says the Taliban can hold down voter turnout.

"What you have to remember about Afghanistan is that it is a vast country with a majority of the country living in remote rural areas, so even if the Taliban just block off one road, it can stop an entire village from reaching the polling station and that could have a significant impact on election day," she said.

Clarke says reduced turnout would probably hurt incumbent president Hamid Karzai the most in what has turned out to be a spirited campaign complete with debates.

Karzai is still expected to get the most votes although he may need a run off to defeat Abdullah Abdullah - a doctor who once served as the country's foreign minister.

"The United States I think accepts the fact that President Karzai is likely to win, but it would like to see a very different President Karzai over the next four years than they've had for the last few years," said John Nagl of the Center for New American Security.

Nagl says the fact this has turned into a real horse race could serve as a wake up call to Karzai.

"This is a good forcing function to put more coercive pressure on president Karzai, on his government to root out some corruption and be more responsive to his people," Nagl said.

That's what the U.S. wants to see come out of this election - a better Afghan government.

[zonkzilla]

"But as CBS News correspondent David Martin reports, the election has given the Taliban new incentive to throw the country into chaos."

Sound familiar?
It should, substitute "right wing talk show hosts" for Taliban.
I bet the Taliban listen to Limbaugh/Hannity/and Beck every day for tips.

[speakinup22]

Could be zonkie. But that's freedom of speech for you.

What - you don't like Freedom of speech now ?

[legacyabq]

Heeee heeeee heeeee!!

Remember Operation Chaos last year? LOL this hegadline reminded me of that.

Silly righties, thinking they win again!

[cattiej]

Karzai has received 33 Billion dolllars since our troops have gone into his country. 87,000 American weapons are unaccounted for, supposedly stolen by the Afghan Army, Afghan military police and other corrupt, greedy Afghan politicans. Obama, when running for President said he would bring our troops home the first thing after he was sworn into office. He lied, he sent more troops. We have been had by our corrupt greedy politicans and Afghan corrupt and greedy politicans. what strange bed-fellows they make. We, the American taxpayer are paying for this. Bring our troops home. This is an illegal war. We are being played...Buy only American cars and products. This is the only way we are going to avoid a major depression that will make the great depression of the 1930's look like a birthday party. Bring our troops home to protect OUR borders.

[paddyhayes]

Actually, he didn't say Afghanistan, he said Iraq. That's the promise he failed to keep.

"Buy only American cars and products."

Good luck finding them. My "American" Harley has Japanese and Singaporan parts.

Ford owns a controlling share in Mazda, which is where many "Ford" parts come from. Take a look at the EFI control system on most American cars. Where are the electronic components from?

Buy a Dell or Gateway computer. They are "assembled" in America. Dell often uses Samsung RAM. In fact, many chips other than the CPU are manufactured overseas. Take a look at your hard drive. The DVD.

[woeisme1]

Not much difference at all.

[speakinup22]

Pathetic liberal.

[hungry1968-16]

"Taliban Tries to Sow Chaos before Election"

"Republicans Try to Sow Chaos at Health Care Town Hall Debates"




Really, is there a difference?

[speakinup22]

Not in a liberal's mind.

But in the constitution it is STILL called free speech.