War on Terror Update, 18 SEP 05

I just wanted to take a moment to highlight three stories from today that deserve far more attention than they are receiving from our wonderful media.

First, there was an absolutely gigantic story in the Afghani theater, as terrorists and Taliban holdouts again failed to keep the Afghan people from the polls.

Polls close in Afghanistan parliament elections

Polls closed in Afghanistan’s first parliament elections in more than 30 years, with millions of people casting their ballots in defiance of last-ditch attempts by Taliban rebels to derail the vote.

Violence marred the start of polling, with nine people killed including a French soldier, while rockets were fired on a UN warehouse in Kabul and two would-be suicide bombers were wounded as they tried to attack a voting centre.

But as the polls closed officials said a high proportion of the nearly 12.5 mln eligible voters had cast their ballots, signaling another step on a difficult path to democracy launched after the Taliban regime fell in 2001.

‘The voting started relatively slowly but after the morning it has seriously picked up all over Afghanistan,’ Peter Erben of the UN-Afghan Joint Electoral Management Board told reporters.

‘I believe a high number of Afghans have turned out to vote.’

I wish I could tell you why this monumental occurrence isn’t being trumpeted as loudly as any single car bomb in Baghdad.

Speaking of Iraq, I’m certain my readers know of the troubled writing of the proposed constitution. Did you know that the version to be voted on had been finalized? Probably not, especially if you relied on the televised media to bring you the goings-on of the world.

Iraq approves definitive draft of new constitution

Iraq’s parliament approved a final draft of a new constitution on Sunday and submitted it to the United Nations, which will print five million copies and distribute it around the country.

Hussain al-Shahristani, the deputy speaker of parliament, told reporters it was an absolute final draft of the constitution before it is put to a referendum on Oct. 15.

The document has been held up repeatedly in recent weeks by several last-minute amendments, mainly due to objections by the country’s Sunni Arab minority.

“There is no way there will be any changes now,” Shahristani said. “The draft is being submitted to the United Nations and will be presented to the Iraqi people soon.”

Speaking of Iraq, it’s nice to know that some allies aren’t willing to cut and run. In fact, some even express a willingness to prolong or increase missions as needed. Developments don’t quite gather the number of international headlines as announced withdrawals, but such is the media our military and diplomatic efforts must overcome.

UK says to boost troop numbers in Iraq if needed

Britain said on Sunday it would if necessary increase the number of troops in Iraq as fears mount that the country is sliding toward civil war.

Britain, the main ally of the United States in Iraq, has about 8,500 soldiers deployed there and has frequently said its soldiers will stay until the Iraqi government asks them to leave.

“We don’t need them (more troops) at the moment, if that’s necessary, of course we would do that,” British Defense Minister John Reid told ITV’s Jonathan Dimbleby’s show.

“There’s no quitting and running, we’re there until the job is done.

I first started blogging because of my life-long love of journalism and my disgust with today’s media. I may be enduring a little bit of “hobby burnout” lately, but at least the latter motivation is still there, constant and appalling.