KABUL, Afghanistan – While Afghans may not have a vote in the U.S. presidential election on Tuesday, most feel that they and their nation have a stake in its outcome.

When asked whether they supported President Bush or his Democratic rival, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, most said they favored the incumbent, perhaps not surprising given Bush’s association with the ouster of the Taliban regime.

But many also criticized current U.S. policy toward their country and called for increased military and financial assistance in the future, no matter who’s elected.

“Whoever becomes the next American president must continue financial aid, and shouldn’t withdraw American forces from Afghanistan,” said Mohammad Nazir Arya, 44, who owns the Arya Stationary House in the center of Kabul.

Asadullah, 23, a Kabul shopkeeper, was worried that if Kerry were elected, he might bring troops home from Afghanistan or cut financial assistance. Asadullah said be believed Bush was better versed on the issues that affect Afghanistan.

“If George Bush wins the election, it will be Afghanistan’s gain,” he said.

But, he added, “Whether George Bush or John Kerry wins, American must strengthen its presence, otherwise there will be civil war in Afghanistan.”

Daud, 40, of Kabul, says that Bush already has a track record on Afghanistan and it would be for the benefit of Afghanistan if he remains in office.

“It takes some time for a new president to set his new policy, and then he has to implement it,” he said. “If our country is used as a laboratory for a new policy, we will pay the price.”

Not everyone agreed that a change in administrations would bring about a change in U.S. policies toward Afghanistan.

Abdul Wakil Nayebi, 28, of Baghlan province, said, “In my opinion, U.S. policy will not be changed by the upcoming election. Politics and policies toward other countries will remain unchanged.”

Mayebi discounted Kerry’s promise to review his country’s policy toward Afghanistan. “I think it is just a slogan,” he said.

Several people said they supported Kerry.

Abdul Hasib Noori, 30, of Kabul, said the election of Kerry would bring positive change in Afghanistan.

“Bush is dictatorial in his approach. He should have opted for a softer approach in Afghanistan,” he said. “I oppose Bush’s policy toward Afghanistan, and John Kerry may bring some changes in U.S. policy.”

Gauhar, 34, a student at Kabul University, said she supported Kerry because he said that resolving Afghanistan’s problems and pursuing al-Qaida should have been the priority before directing U.S. attention toward Iraq.

“Instead of rolling up the al-Qaida’s carpet from Afghanistan, Bush turned his attention toward Iraq,” she said.

Gauhar added that she was not in favor of American forces staying in Afghanistan, but said that, at the moment, there was no other alternative for stability.

“When the government of Afghanistan stands on its own feet, then American forces must leave Afghanistan,” she said.

Razia, 26, another student from Kabul University, said she supported Kerry because he did not seem a warlike person.

“I support John Kerry, because Bush is the one who wants to bring other countries under his domination,” she said.

Tahira, 36, a student at Kabul University, was more directly critical of Bush’s policies in Afghanistan.

“Bush used the pretext of al-Qaida and terrorism to bomb Afghanistan, and they killed lots of people in some parts of Afghanistan,” she said. “Instead of useless bombing, maybe John Kerry will focus on reconstruction, which is profitable for Afghanistan.”

Stanekzai, a Kabul University instructor, was critical of U.S. support for powerful Northern Alliance commanders who helped drive the Taliban from power.

“The United States primarily helped the warlords – who were nonentities during the Taliban era – to gain prominence, and even promoted them to key positions of the government,” he said.

“Regardless of who becomes the new U.S. president, U.S. tactics, programs and policies regarding Afghanistan in the past three years must be reviewed, and mistakes carried out by the Americans must be pointed out, and shouldn’t be repeated in the future,” he said.

“If Bush wins the election, he will have to review his policies.”

Khalid Azam, 25, of Kabul, said the United States ignores Afghanistan at its peril.

“At the moment the current situation in Afghanistan is totally twisted by American politics,” Azam said. “Even if Kerry wins the election, he has to continue Bush’s policy. If he doesn’t, Afghanistan once again will become a major threat to the United States.”

Wahidullah Amani is a journalist in Kabul who writes for the Institute for War & Peace Reporting.

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