The Afghan Government Is Unified in Name Alone

For much of Afghanistan's history, its combination of competing ethnic groups, illogical boundaries and impotent central government have weakened its status as both a nation and a state. Today, these problems persist, and as a result Afghanistan finds itself burdened with four interrelated challenges: a political system unable to advance reform, a military unable to monopolize the use of force, an anemic economy overreliant on foreign aid and a perennially strained relationship with neighboring Pakistan. Faced with these problems, the country's current government will not fulfill one of the key requirements of its assumption of power -- implementing the electoral reforms necessary to hold parliamentary and district council elections. ...