A lesson for Americans

Providence Journal: Many Americans whine about their politicians, even as they're too lazy or distracted to participate in the elections that put these leaders in power. They should have been in Afghanistan this past Saturday to appreciate the value of the right to vote -- in some places a matter of life and death for candidates and voters.
In Afghanistan, millions of people showed up to vote in their first true national presidential election. That includes millions of women, who theretofore had been kept almost entirely out of the political process. Afghans voted in the face of threats from terrorists, and with considerable confusion at many polling places. There were, for example, some screw-ups in the indelible-ink system designed to keep citizens from multiple voting, and confusion over distribution of voter-registration cards.
Still, international observers have judged the voting generally fair, open and representative. Indeed, they were surprised at how well it went, especially considering the threats of violence meant to discourage voting.
The astonishingly brave incumbent, President Hamid Karzai, apparently won, although the counting won't be completed for some time. Much of Afghanistan is still very chaotic; transportation and other communication media are, at best, rudimentary in many regions; far too many people have weapons; and the writ of regional warlords is formidable. So the tally won't begin until today at the earliest, and final results are not expected until late this month.
Still, after decades of war, terror and repression, and at peril to their own lives, Afghans voted in an open election with a secret ballot. The U.S. military and other forces, our allies, and, most of all, the Afghans themselves should be congratulated.
President Bush has frequently said that the best antidote to the desperation that leads to Islamist terrorism is freedom for citizens of the Islamic world's dictatorships -- which means most of the Islamic world! -- such as Afghanistan under the homicidal tyranny of the Taliban. It was the Taliban, of course, that harbored the terrorists who attacked America on Sept. 11, 2001.
There are many hurdles to get over to establish a stable democracy in Afghanistan, including next year's parliamentary elections. Obviously, nothing is certain, especially in a nation so infected by violence, fanaticism and warlordism. However, Afghanistan has taken a leap toward creating a far freer and more humane society. Tactically, the "regime change" initiated by President Bush in that country has had many flaws, but achieving one crucial goal -- free elections -- has been inspiring.
Meanwhile, Iraq has its own huge test in January, when in the face of violent intimidation and chaos, Iraqis will try to vote. If that goes anywhere as well as the Afghan election, the prospects for transforming the Mideast will suddenly look much brighter.