Story: Afghans Vote in First Democratic Election, 10/25/04
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec04/afghanistan_10-25.html

Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. When was the Afghan election and why did the results take so long?

2. Who is expected to win the election?

3. Who is Hamid Karzai?

4. Why was violence expected to hamper the election?

5. Was there a large turnout for the election?

6. What controversy threatened to derail the election?

7. What security issues face the newly-elected government?

8. What other problems face Karzai's new government?

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. Using the NewsHour's timeline of Afghan history at http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/Afghanistan/timeline.html, explain the importance of this election for the people of Afghanistan?

2. How is the current situation in Iraq similar or different to what happened in Afghanistan? Is there a chance Iraq's scheduled election in January may be as successful as the one in Afghanistan? Explain.

3. Do you think democracy in Afghanistan will be similar to democracy in America? How might the two be different?

Write a 300-500 word essay on either of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.