Kabul for Kerry

Who says the media only report bad news from Iraq and Afghanistan?

About 60 people, mostly nongovernment aid workers, gathered at a restaurant garden across town from the fortress-like American Embassy, declaring "Kabul for Kerry."

"It's important to show that there are Americans everywhere, even in Afghanistan, who want a change of leadership in the United States," said organizer Karen Hirschfeld, of Winchester, Mass., who is helping Afghans get ready for this year's national elections. "For the future of Afghanistan, Iraq and America, we need someone with a more rational foreign policy who will work with the international community. We think John Kerry will be a good leader."

The gathering [was] open only to Americans and not officially endorsed by the Kerry campaign [...] "Kabul for Kerry" organizers urged guests to contribute to his campaign and cast absentee ballots in the November presidential election. They pinned Kerry badges on the lapels of participants who paid $10 to cover the cost of the breakfast and hired "Franklin the Democratic Donkey" from its Afghan owner to serve as the party mascot.

None of the thousands of U.S. military personnel based in Afghanistan to hunt for al-Qaida and Taliban rebels turned up for Friday's event. Organizers said plenty of U.S. Embassy workers expressed an interest but were barred from coming for security reasons — although 11 Interior Ministry guards were deployed at the venue.

See? Good news right there on the AP wire. Thanks to my buddy Gene for the heads-up on this one.