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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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 AFGHANISTAN ELECTION 
8

Abdullah Pulls Out of Runoff

Cites Karzai's refusal to reform election system

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(Newser) – The only contender to unseat Afghan President Hamid Karzai today followed through on his threat to boycott the runoff election slated for Nov. 7. Citing Karzai's refusal to overhaul the election system as impetus for his decision, Abdullah Abdullah declared a “transparent election is not possible” at a news conference—handing Karzai a second five-year term and potentially tossing the fragile country into an uproar.

Foreign diplomats in Afghanistan tell the New York Times that Abdullah's move could undermine Karzai's legitimacy or lead to violence—particularly if Abdullah denounced Karzai. While he did not, when asked if he would call for his supporters to boycott the runoff, Abdullah said only, "I have not made that call."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai refused Abdullah's demands to overhaul the election system to prevent a repeat of the widespread fraud in the initial round of voting.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai refused Abdullah's demands to overhaul the election system to prevent a repeat of the widespread fraud in the initial round of voting.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Afghanistan's presidential challenger Abdullah Abdullah announces his decision not to participate in Afghanistan's run-off election in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.
Afghanistan's presidential challenger Abdullah Abdullah announces his decision not to participate in Afghanistan's run-off election in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Afghanistan's presidential challenger Abdullah Abdullah announces his decision not to participate in Afghanistan's run-off election in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.
Afghanistan's presidential challenger Abdullah Abdullah announces his decision not to participate in Afghanistan's run-off election in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
Abdullah Abdullah takes a question during a press conference to announce his decision not to participate in Afghanistan's run-off election in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.
Abdullah Abdullah takes a question during a press conference to announce his decision not to participate in Afghanistan's run-off election in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
In this Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 picture, Abdullah Abdullah, former Afghan foreign minister who ran against President Hamid Karzai in August's vote, gives a news conference in Kabul, Afghanistan.
In this Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 picture, Abdullah Abdullah, former Afghan foreign minister who ran against President Hamid Karzai in August's vote, gives a news conference in Kabul, Afghanistan.   (AP Photo/Farzana Wahidy)
An Afghan man rides his bike under an election poster for Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province east of Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009.
An Afghan man rides his bike under an election poster for Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province east of Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009.   (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
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We see that happen in our own country where, for whatever combination of reasons, one of the candidates decides not to go forward.
I don’t think it has anything to do with the legitimacy of the election.
- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

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8 comments
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dontlikeyou
Nov 1, 09 7:50 AM CST
Good. Now send the damn troops, Obama... you no longer have an excuse to endanger our troops any longer. Reply
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-3
IN RESPONSE:
emptycalm
Nov 1, 09 1:18 PM CST
Send them where?
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0
IN RESPONSE:
DarkFrancis
Nov 1, 09 2:24 PM CST
I think you must be on some kind of odd medication, dly. You've been in a tailspin for a while. Might need to consult about a change in the regimen.
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0
IN RESPONSE:
Cat-Lover
Nov 1, 09 2:50 PM CST
"dontlikeyou:" I agree with you "good." Where I disagree with you is that now we should pull our troops out -- immediately -- let Afghanistan take care of itself and we strengthen up the border nations stopping anything from leaving or entering. I know Iran is a border nation, but we have lost control there, so it's time to play to our strengths. As for Iran, personally, I'd nuke 'em and worry about international opinion later.
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IN RESPONSE:
pete_ess
Nov 2, 09 2:12 AM CST
Cat-hater would nuke Iran! Isn't that just wonderful. With stupid, ignorant, vicious, hateful, murderous dumbass thinking like that is it any wonder America is on its way down? And out? But don't worry, Cat. You won't have to "worry about international opinion later". Your kids and grandkids will have to. Just like the EASY solution was to send in 1000's of tanks and 1000's of planes against the pitiful few Iraq had (and 8yrs later a new President must "fix the mess"), just so the EASY "push the nuke button" solution will have repercussions you could not even imagine.
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+1

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