Internationally acclaimed politician, Paddy Ashdown, has declared Afghanistan a "failed state". Speaking in an interview on the BBC's respected Sunday morning Andrew Marr Show on Feb 10th the acclaimed High Representative for Bosnia Herzegovnia, who had previoulsy been handpicked by Western governments to endeavour to find a democratic solution in Afgahnistan in assistance of the disintergrating Karzai government, before turning down the job, was asked whether the Afghan project risked veering towards failure. In a remarkably frank response he declared "Afghanistan is a failed state."

That such an assessment should be made by a leading establishment figure is remarkable. Ashdown has lately been more renowned for his restraint and diplomacy than outspoken opinions. Prominent in UK politics for over 30 years, and highly respected across the international community for his work in Bosnia Herzegovnia, this is a damning inditement of the failures of the NATO led International Security Force occupying the country. The NATO coalition, under US guidance, reportedly wishes to establish Western style democracy in the region.

Ashdown's declaration can therefore be taken as further evidence by all those, across the interational community, who believe that democracy cannot be exported by military means. That democracy, in order to firmly take root, must instead be a locally inspired 'grassroots' movement.

Ashdown CV

HM Royal Marine 1959-1972 (Commando, Special boat Service)
First UK Secretary to the UN in Geneva.
MP for Yeovil 1983-2001
Leader of the Liberal Democrats (third largest political party in the UK 1989-2001)
High Representative For Bosnia Herzegovnia 2002
On January 16th Reuters reported that Ashdown had been drafted in as UN representative to Afghanistan after approaches with UN general Secrteay Ban Ki Moon. It has been confirmed by Ashdown since that he indeed discussed taking the post,and his requirements for doing so, with US Secretary Of State Condeleeza Rice.