AP source: Karzai expected to accept he fell short

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON — U.S. officials expect Afghan President Hamid Karzai to concede on Tuesday that he fell short of the 50 percent vote share in August's election that he needed to win outright, but it was unclear Monday whether that would lead quickly to a runoff election with his nearest challenger, a U.S. government official said.

Karzai could opt to embrace a runoff, which Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday was logistically feasible within weeks, or he could attempt to negotiate a power-sharing arrangement with former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, who finished second in the August balloting.

The U.S. government official, who discussed the matter on condition of anonymity because Karzai had not yet announced his decision, said it was not clear Monday which of the two avenues to settling the political crisis Karzai would pursue.

The U.S. preference is for a power-sharing deal to avoid the expense and risk of a second election.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h3mpSI8fPqHjCQ2uJQchn_R1BUoQD9BEIG280

Winter is coming and things get much more difficult then...

I believe I heard on the Jim Lehrer Newshour that ballots have already been printed.

:shrug:

I use the word "Election" with Sarcasm. Charlie is our appointed Thug in Charge, first unveiled by the CHIMPANZEE (SEE BELOW)

There are no "Elections" there and no Law and Justice either.

The place is a Criminal Narcotic Gang Ruled SEWER.

It's the "Law of the Jungle", run by various War Criminals, Thugs and Religious NutJobs.

Under the present Occupant of the White House this hole of Pestilence and Cesspool, will continue to be run by Hooligans, Hoodlums and Miscreants.

"BRING EM ON" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

How about the low level officiolonistas inclined to bribery solicitation? ... the ones who enhance the cachet of the Talibanskis?

...

Runner-up in Afghan election seeks interim gov't
By RAHIM FAIEZ and HEIDI VOGT (AP) – 1 hour ago

KABUL — The runner-up in Afghanistan's presidential election pushed Tuesday for an interim government to shepherd the country through the winter if it's too difficult or dangerous to organize a runoff in the coming weeks.

The possibility of a runoff has loomed larger after a U.N.-backed panel Monday threw out a third of President Hamid Karzai's votes from the Aug. 20 ballot. Karzai was expected to acknowledge the need for a runoff with chief rival Abdullah Abdullah after days of resisting fraud rulings that pulled his totals below the 50 percent threshold.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with Karzai again Tuesday — his fifth meeting in as many days. He also met again Tuesday with Abdullah, Karzai's former foreign minister, according to the U.S. Embassy
more:http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvWEqwq3CrRvaQCmt21MfoYhjZJQD9BEO29O0

Because democracy is so...risky, you know.