The elections have come and gone in Kabul. I think most of you saw something about it on the news, probably in relation to the type of ink used to mark those who've voted. Everyone seems to be calling this a successful experiment in enforced democracy. Its a little more complex than people are letting on, the incidents of interference somewhat more widespread and violent than one might gather from CNN. People are starting to speak about the rule of law and its progress here. Eighty percent of all the heroin in the world comes from Afghan poppy, even though it is illegal to cultivate it. Several of the major candidates for president and many members of regional government are directly involved in the manufacture and transportation of opium. Some regional governors have private armies with helicopter gunships, tanks, and thousands of soldiers. The democratic process must go forward here. The fact that the constitution its based on Sharia law frankly scares me, but at least it reflects public opinion. I'm enough of a chauvinist to believe that popular consent is a necessary foundation for just government. But I don't think anyone will say that the rule of law has superseded the rule of the gun just because the elections have been carried out without massive, widespread violence. Voting is one thing, but there are many changes which will have to be made here if the central government is to assert its authority over the whole country. If effective government requires the monopolization of force and the means of projecting it, then the government in Kabul is still ineffective. But they are trying, and I think thats what really matters this year. This country is still in the hands of regional warlords. The U.S. government is proceeding with a damaging and ineffectual program to halt poppy production. The L.A. Times publishes articles which make an unfavorable comparison between U.S. Contractors in Kabul (your's truly) to the Russians. These are all things which stand in the way of progress here, but it is still being made. One day, given enough effort and attention, the rule of law will be established here.