Democracy wont work under the gun
The week's news at a glance.
Afghanistan
Editorial
Anis
Afghanistan is still a heavily armed society, said Kabul’s Anis in an editorial. According to the U.N., the dismantling of the militias is almost over. A U.N. program has put some 48,000 former soldiers or militants into new jobs and confiscated about 9,000 heavy weapons. The U.N. met its quota, which is all well and good. And it’s been somewhat reassuring to see “television images of military units being disarmed.” But Afghans can’t shake the feeling that the program was “more cosmetic than practical.” After all, the real threat to Afghan democracy doesn’t come from tanks or missiles. It comes from rifles. Several hundred warlords and drug lords, some of them with official government positions, still command the loyalty of thousands of rifle-packing militants. We’re supposed to have parliamentary elections this fall. But we “cannot set up a healthy parliament, reflecting people’s expectations and aspirations, unless armed men are disarmed well before the vote.” If the election were held today, “those who control the guns would control the votes.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Today's political cartoons - October 14, 2024
Cartoons Monday's cartoons - Columbus Day, the death of satire, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Lonely Planet and the surge of age-gap romances
In The Spotlight Laura Dern is the latest Hollywood actor to star opposite a much younger love interest
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Is the UK worth investing in?
Today's big question Labour looks to woo business and reverse years of underinvestment in search for holy grail of growth
By The Week UK Published