Karzai balking at deal to end Afghan election dispute

Source: McClatchy

KABUL, Afghanistan — The United States and other powers struggled Saturday to persuade Afghan President Hamid Karzai to accept a deal to resolve the dispute over the country's tainted presidential election and avert a political crisis that could spark civil unrest and jeopardize the U.S.-led fight against the Taliban-led insurgency.
The Afghan leader's closest challenger, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, told U.S. officials earlier this week that he'd agree to a deal under certain conditions, said three U.S. officials, who all requested anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly.

Under the plan, Karzai would accept the fact that when fraudulent votes are thrown out, he failed to win more than half the vote in the Aug. 20 election. In return, Abdullah, the second-place finisher, would forgo a runoff by withdrawing and endorsing a Karzai-led unity government that included some of his allies, the officials said. Karzai also would have to pursue key political reforms to root out official corruption and improve public services.

"If you can mediate a settlement which leads to a stronger and more unified government, our sense is that that would be a means of garnering the most significant support by the Afghan people and enhancing the perceived legitimacy of that government," said a senior Obama administration official in Washington.

-snip-
Karzai, however, appeared to be digging in his heels Saturday, giving no indication that he's willing to accept a decision expected Sunday from the United Nations Election Complaints Commission that could toss out as many as 1.5 million questionable votes for him. That would drive his preliminary tally of 54.6 percent below the 50 percent mark and require a runoff.
Karzai's refusal to accept the EEC's decision, perhaps by turning to the country's Independent Election Commission, whose members he appointed, or to its Supreme Court, which he dominates, could ignite a potentially violent backlash by Abdullah's supporters, the bulk of whom are Tajiks and other ethnic minorities who dominate Kabul and northern Afghanistan.





Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/77351.html

and take whats given to him. Hes the corrupt bastard that has ruined this war.

Good to see the hawks are still flocking to DU lately.:eyes:

What a stupendously IGNORANT thing to say...

But disqualify ass hat for cheating and all around basturdery.

So he'd be wise to "make a deal-deal".

Maybe if you can't run your country without NATO being your police force you shouldn't be the leader in the first place.

From The Sunday Times
October 18, 2009
Armed riots threatened as Karzai scorns election inquiry
Jerome Starkey in Kabul

HAMID KARZAI, the Afghan president, has threatened to ignore the findings of an investigation into widespread fraud that made it appear he had won an election victory over his rival in August.

The country’s Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) had been due to announce yesterday that Karzai’s share of the ballots was being cut from 54.6% to about 47% as a result of the inquiry, triggering a second round of voting. But the announcement was delayed amid diplomatic efforts to convince Karzai to abide by the decision.

Karzai insists that he should be declared the outright winner and has dismissed reports of widespread fraud as “totally fabricated” and “politically motivated”.

In a bleak assessment to foreign ambassadors in Kabul last night the head of the United Nations in Afghanistan, Kai Eide, warned that the situation was “very tense”.

“He was encouraging the ambassadors to get their foreign ministers to call up Karzai and underline the importance of sticking to the constitution and accepting the ECC’s decision,” said an insider at the meeting.

The American senator John Kerry met the president for the second time in two days to emphasise “the need for a legitimate outcome”, an embassy official said. French diplomats said a surprise visit by their foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, was also intended to defuse “tension created by the repeated delays in announcing the election results”.

<more>

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6879515.ece

And we'll probably help him slaughter them.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama does not intend to decide about sending additional troops to Afghanistan until he is satisfied that the Kabul government can work effectively with the U.S., a top White House aide said Sunday.

"It would be reckless to make a decision on U.S. troop levels if in fact you haven't done a thorough analysis of whether in fact there's an Afghan partner ready to fill that space that U.S. troops would create and become a true partner in governing," said the president's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.

Emanuel gave no timetable for a presidential decision in Afghanistan. He said the White House plans to have additional strategy sessions this week and next, extending a review process that began after the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, reported that more U.S. troops are required.

The central question, Emanuel said, "is not how much troops you have but whether in fact there's an Afghan partner."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iqyaFh_efr-brDq0rMLF1hkop0tgD9BDHQO00

Get the fuck OUT - NOW!!!

Get out of George bush*s War!!!