September 1, 2004

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence

Just to clarify my last few posts: am I sure there was no fraud on August 15th? No, of course not! How could I be?

I am sure that there is no evidence of fraud on August 15th. At best, the CD can string together a pretty compelling conspiracy theory. But without corroborating evidence, it must be seen as just that: a conspiracy theory.

However, to paraphrase the old aphorism, absence of evidence of fraud is not the same thing as evidence of an absence of fraud.

Lots of questions remain unanswered.

If the government and CNE really wanted to dispel all doubts, and if they have nothing to hide, they would just fling open all the ballot boxes. So far, they've refused to do that.

What can we conclude from that? Either they don't really want to dispel all doubts, or they have something to hide.

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