[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 20176]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  THE ROAD TO DEMOCRACY IN AFGHANISTAN

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, in spite of great 
challenges, the Afghan people continue to make tremendous progress in 
creating a hopeful future for their families and their country.
  On Sunday, Afghans will go to the polls to choose parliamentary 
candidates who will represent their views and reinforce their nation's 
status as a growing democracy. Preparations are being made to ensure 
that the upcoming election is fair and accessible to all citizens of 
Afghanistan.
  Since many people in the country are illiterate, the ballots will 
list candidates names, photographs, personal symbols, and numbers to 
ensure that Afghans from all walks of life have the opportunity to 
participate in the election.
  After witnessing the tremendous success of Iraq's elections, I am 
confident that the people of Afghanistan will also turn out 
overwhelmingly to cast their ballots.
  They are committed to democracy and confident in their vision for 
their nation, which protects American families.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September 11.

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