I am getting this same error while trying to add platform Android
to simple HelloWorld application created using CLI Cordova
on Windows 8.
You can't add the iOs platform on Windows 8 (Check the available commands on the link):
"Your ability to run these commands depends on whether your machine supports each SDK, and whether you have already installed each SDK."
source: http://cordova.apache.org/docs/en/3.4.0//guide_cli_index.md.html#The%20Command-Line%20Interface
Android is strange though.. Can you provide any more details? (are all the environment variables set correctly? did you add JAVA_HOME?..)
Hopefully I'll be more of a help with some more info :)