The BBC was quick to put a negative spin on Afghanistan’s first democratic election ever, held on Saturday. The Beeb’s website headlined, “Afghan vote ends in controversy.” The story pointed out a possible election boycott by opposition candidates due to “voting irregularities.” By Sunday, the BBC was already backpedaling, announcing, “Afghan vote boycott 'crumbling'” and “Observers approve Afghan election.” Today, the Washington Post announced, “Afghan Election Concerns Subside: Several Candidates Back Off Assertions Of Voter Fraud.”

The so-called “controversy” dealt with indelible ink that election workers were applying to voters’ thumbs after they cast their ballots. Some voters were able to wipe the ink off. It was the great U.N.'s job to help organize and oversee the elections. They could have ordered some ink from Office Depot. This ink thing prompted several opposition candidates to cry fowl. Can you say “hanging chads?” Even the U.S. is capable of election “controversy.” Has the Beeb forgotten that Afghanistan has just emerged from the Stone Age?

It was only three years ago that Afghanistan was ruled by Islamist, terrorist thugs, the Taliban. Under their rule, women couldn’t vote. Females were barred from getting an education and working -- even executed for dressing “improperly.” Music was outlawed. Massacres of civilians were commonplace. Only three years ago, Afghans could only dream of freedom.

According to the Washington Post,

Controversy clouding Afghanistan's historic first presidential election eased Sunday when several major opposition candidates backed off from assertions that voter fraud and errors at polling places had rendered Saturday's vote meaningless and illegitimate. …

More than 10.5 million men and women registered to vote, and turnout was described as massive by international election observers and the United Nations. …

Officials also emphasized that despite dire predictions of attacks at the polls by the Taliban militia and other armed groups, no serious attacks had occurred Saturday. Afghan and international security forces had discovered and successfully thwarted a number of possible bombing plots and other attacks, officials said.

After the BBC’s initial tantrum, it was admitting the same:

The UN, which helped organise the poll, has praised the "massive" turnout in the election.

Correspondents say ordinary Afghans have regarded the elections with gravity and enthusiasm.

So now the U.N. will investigate any voting irregularities. But it was the damn U.N.’s job to organize the elections (and I assume buy indelible ink) in the first place. The U.S. did its job of keeping the elections free from violence – in other words, the tough job.

Is the BBC backing off because its #1 darling organization, the United Nations, has bestowed blessings upon the Afghan poll? Surprise! The U.N. has legitimized U.S. foreign policy, engineered by the Bush administration. But the U.N. screwed the poll up by scimping on ink. All those billions pocketed during the U.N.-organized "oil-for-food" disaster in Iraq, but no indelible ink. Poor BBC. How confusing this all must be.

Just where would Afghanistan be if the U.S. failed to act in 2001? Still in the Stone Age. And without any elections.