Afghan Commentary Post

  Something must change in Afghanistan. The status quo will never do. In August 2021, when the Taliban regained power in Kabul, Afghans weary of war hoped that the Taliban had changed and would pave the way for free elections to let Afghans decide for themselves. Unfortunately, three years into their rule, Afghanistan is no better off than before. The Taliban's monopoly on power and their anti-women policies have dashed all hopes and turned the country into a prison without walls. Afghans are suffering, leaving the country due to a lack of jobs, security, and to escape the Taliban's oppressive regime. The Taliban show no inclination to share power. On the other hand, there is no strong opposition to pose a serious challenge to the regime. Members of the former government living in exile lack the support of the majority of Afghans, who blame them for corruption and for the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. The real victims are Afghan civilians, caught between a rock and a hard place...

    Now that the first presidential debate has concluded, the verdict is clear: the true losers are the American people. They now face a choice between two aging men, neither of whom appears fully equipped to lead a vibrant and dynami   Just before tuning into the American presidential debate, I was catching up on Iran's election developments online. Following the tragic death of former President Raisi in a helicopter crash, Iranians were urged to participate in the polls to elect a new leader. Initially, 80 candidates entered the race, but only a select few received approvals after scrutiny from a panel of Islamic clerics, ultimately endorsed by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.   This process highlights the limited autonomy Iranian citizens have in selecting their leader. They are onstrained to choosing from a pre-approved pool of candidates.   Unfortunately, a similar situation arises in this year’s U.S. election, where voters find themse...