The deepest lesson here is that the American armed forces are the sharp end of the stick of American idealism. The Americans who man the Jalalabad reconstruction team (one of 16 around the country) are working with Afghans in all areas -- military, reconstruction, civil affairs -- to try to nurture a new Afghanistan. Even a Special Forces team transferred to the area -- with their trademark bearded, fearsome look -- is providing enhanced security explicitly in anticipation of more violence at the time of the election.
This is not an effort the United States should undertake everywhere. But in a country that was recently harboring a lethal terrorist conspiracy, making something better and sustainable deserves to be a priority. Despite violence that has killed 12 registrars, Afghans appear eager to vote. Will the election be pristine? Hardly. Asked about multiple registrations at a joint press conference with Rumsfeld, Karzai prompted puzzled looks by saying, "If Afghans like to vote twice, we'll welcome that -- that's democracy."
He later explained that ink stains on people's fingers will prevent repeat voting. But a point he made repeatedly was very sound: "We are just beginning." Many Afghans have no experience with ID cards and don't know when they were born. Roughly half are illiterate. Given all that, it is understandable that international election experts are encouraged. One proudly displayed a ballot printed that very day. It was long, with enough space for big letters and pictures of all 18 presidential candidates, with big boxes to check next to their names -- so user-friendly it might even pass muster in Florida.