For at least a year prior to the August 2009 elections, NATO officials recognized that ordinary Afghans' disgust with their government's massive corruption was among the Taliban's most effective recruitment tools. At that time, these officials argued that the elections would give Afghanistan’s leaders a clear mandate for reform.
早在 2009 年 8 月的大选之际，北约官员就发现，普通阿富汗民众对政府大规模腐败感到厌恶，这也是塔利班征兵的一个最有效借口。当时，他们原指望通过大选来帮助阿富汗领导人实施改革。随后充满舞弊的大选让所有人都寒了心。