And in advance of the election, Karzai has used a constitutional loophole to enact a law that allows minority Shia Muslim husbands to refuse food and money to their wives if they deny them sex.

So those Human Rights we're over there fighting for? The democracy we're safeguarding? Yes, well, about that...

Nice guy, that Karzai.

On the one hand, you have to realize that Afghanistan has its own history and culture and however much the Western world may find parts of it distasteful or just plain wrong, we can not expect to walk into any country and change things to how we see fit, even if we're right.

On the other hand, goddamn it.

Afghanistan if voting today and turn out appears to be low due to violence and threats from the Taliban.

Both Karzi and rival Abdullah Abdullah are claiming victory, though the official result won't be known for till early September. Partial preliminary results will be out by Tuesday.