Reasons for Pessimism

I wish I could get optimistic about Afghanistan, but it's really hard. Here two girls' schools have been forced to close after students were threatened and teachers attacked with rockets. Meanwhile, IWPR reports on how Afghans see the forthcoming elections as a ratification of Karzai much like those held in Egypt that re-elect Mubarak every few years. From the article, it sounds like other candidates will have trouble even getting on the ballot - $1000 is a lot of money for that part of the world.