Afghanistan's Future: Who's who in pivotal presidential election

General Rashid Dostum is a legendary and widely feared ex-warlord running for vice president alongside presidential candidate Dr. Ashraf Ghani (more on him later). Revered by fellow ethnic Uzbeks, he has been credited with having tremendous influence in Afghanistan’s previous elections.

A fierce battlefield commander, Dostum is said to have been instrumental in helping the U.S. Special Forces topple the Taliban regime following the 9/11 attacks. He has strongly denied accusations of human rights abuses and other war-related atrocities throughout decades of strife across Afghanistan

I remember reading a lot about Gen Dostum in the early days of our War on Terror in Afghanistan. He is very pro-US, anti-Taliban, anti-Al Qaeda. If he had been president, instead of Karzai, there wouldn't even be a single terrorist left to put into a museum.

He is also very modern, in the city he ruled, I forgot the name, women were protected, could go to school, while in the other provinces they were suppressed.

He is tough on the enemy and generous to friends. I hope he and the presidential candidate he is running with, Ghani will get elected.

I am rooting for them.

An article dated Sept 22, 2009, he is offering to Obama that he could help defeat the Taliban and Al Qaeda, needless to say, Obama didn’t take him up on it...

Afghan warlords will fight if U.S. gives weapons

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/22/afghan-warlords-will-fight-if-us-gives-aid/?feat=home_headlines&;

“Afghanistan’s long-established warlords and tribal leaders are offering to step up their fight against the Taliban and al Qaeda if the United States sends them more money and weapons, reprising the role they played before 2001.

The offer could be tempting to President Obama, who is being urged to build up U.S. troop strength in the country in spite of rising domestic opposition to the war, especially in the aftermath of a fraud-tainted Afghan presidential election.

Afghans who led ethnic militias against the Soviet occupation two decades ago say more U.S. troops would not be needed if the United States provided them with financial and material backing.

“We can defeat the Taliban, but we need assistance from the U.S. Not more troops but we need the NATO commanders to listen to us, support us. So far, they are not listening and the Afghan people fear they will be abandoned. This is no way to defeat an enemy”

I believe the city was Mazar-e-Sharif.

I was wondering whatever happened to Gen. Dostum. He tends to be somewhat tyrannical, but secular authoritarianism is exactly what’s needed in Afghanistan.

The folks I talked to who’d dealt with him say he’s definitely not one to be trifled with. If anyone can bring those koranimals to heel, it’s him.

Another article for reference:

Afghanistan election guide: everything you need to know

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/03/afghanistan-election-guide-candidates-list

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