After The Debacle In Iraq Is Afghanistan Next?

Why Afghanistan Won't End Up Like Iraq -- Akhilesh Pillalamarri, The Diplomat

Despite some worrying signs, Saturday’s elections in Afghanistan offer some positive glimpses of Afghanistan’s future.

This past Saturday, on June 14, Afghanistan successfully held the second round of its presidential elections, which could usher in the first peaceful and democratic transfer of power in its history. This election was a run-off between the two frontrunners from the previous round, held on April 5: former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and former finance minister Ashraf Ghani. Both candidates, unlike incumbent President Hamid Karzai, have pledged to sign a Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the United States, which would allow for a continued U.S. presence in Afghanistan post-2014.

The election featured an unexpectedly large turnout of over 7 million individuals. Afghans voted despite threats from the Taliban, demonstrating a widespread desire for peace and acceptance of the basic framework of the state, its institutions, and the electoral process. While there were some violent incidents, none of them seriously disrupted the election.

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Update: Iraq crisis stirs fears Afghanistan could be next -- Donna Cassata, AP

My Comment: The situation in Afghanistan can actually become far worse than what is happening in Iraq today. Afghanistan has a more ethnic mix with serious sectarian issues, corruption is part of the culture, and Jihadists have always found the country a fertile ground to grow and expand.