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Karzai Took Major Arm-Twisting to OK Runoff

Round 2 of Afghan election no panacea, either

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 21, 2009 7:24 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Hamid Karzai's concession yesterday that an election runoff was necessary may have brought Afghanistan back from political paralysis, but another ballot is no sure solution. The potential for fraud—more than a quarter of first round ballots were thrown out—has not abated, the New York Times notes. Today Abdullah Abdullah said he's prepared for a runoff, but he left open the possibility of a unity government with Karzai.

The developments follow days of hard-press diplomacy in Washington, London, and Kabul. John Kerry, who flew to Afghanistan, told Karzai of his own disappointment in the 2004 election to win him over, while Gordon Brown and three Obama Cabinet members called Karzai and threatened international isolation. Barack Obama himself spoke to Abdullah, although the candidate says he did not suggest a coalition government, as some in Washington would like to see. "I am not under any pressure from the international community for any scenario," he said.

Abdullah Abdullah speaks with journalists after a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. He will face Hamid Karzai in a presidential runoff election.
Abdullah Abdullah speaks with journalists after a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. He will face Hamid Karzai in a presidential runoff election.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Sen. John Kerry with Afghan President Hamid Karzai during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009. The White House had high praise for the American team in Kabul.
Sen. John Kerry with Afghan President Hamid Karzai during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009. The White House had high praise for the American team in Kabul.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
NxBigmouthery
Oct 21, 2009 9:15 AM CDT
Hegemony, tribalism, theocracy...this is all the region has ever known. It's just not going to work out. Throwing money and getting the hell out seems to be the last best solution.
serfinWI
Oct 21, 2009 6:38 AM CDT
And where would they find a qualified leader in the messed up country of Afganistan that would hold up to US standards. Everyone living in that country has never been exposed to a democratic republic, they have no George Washington or Abe Lincoln to look up to and model themselves after. There is no rule of law. All they've ever had are tyrannical despots that only know how to lead with threats and violence.
RogerMohajir
Oct 21, 2009 1:16 AM CDT
Elections are the opiate of the American governing class. They believe in electoral sanctity and omnipotence with religious fervor. They have an abiding faith that elections equal legitimacy (the equivalent of "God equals love"). The cure for fraudulent elections is more elections! Never mind that there is no reason to believe these will be any more legitimate than the last. You can't have too much of a good thing, right? Our leaders' childlike faith in elections must be a source of some amusement to Afghans, who know too well from long, sad experience that authority comes from the barrel of a gun -- not a bogus ballot and ink-stained finger.

 
Afghanistan • Barack Obama • John Kerry • Gordon Brown • Hamid Karzai • runoff election • Abdullah Abdullah • Afghanistan election

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