Posts Tagged ‘Tom’

Tom, Jerry … and Karzai

keskiviikko, marraskuu 4th, 2009
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  • Tom, Jerry … and Karzai

    As long as Afghanistan votes on the basis of ethnicity, all it can expect of its politicians is an international comedy show
    Nushin Arbabzadah
    guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 4 November 2009 12.00 GMT
    Article history

    News that the people of Afghanistan would be treated to another five years of Hamid Karzai’s eccentric rule was covered in all Afghan media outlets apart from Karzai’s own mouthpiece, the state-run RTA television. Instead of reporting Karzai’s re-election, the TV station ran a Tom and Jerry cartoon.

    Given the ridiculous nature of the August 2009 elections, Tom and Jerry was a fitting response to Karzai’s ”victory”. After all, what is Afghan politics these days but an international comedy show, making fun of its people and future? The comedy started in 2001, when Afghans were promised peace, justice and disarmament only to see warlords and local strongmen elevated to positions of power, complete with democratic titles, fancy cars and bodyguards. In the words of a fellow Afghan and friend: ”It was like expecting Genghis Khan and his entourage to run a peaceful democracy.”

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/04/karzai-afghanistan-ethnicity-politicians

    http://www.nettisanomat.com