"US would not want second round in Afghan elections"
Published: 19 October, 2009, 20:29
Edited: 20 October, 2009, 10:24
TAGS: Election, Scandal, Asia, Interview
In Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai could face another round of presidential elections. According to some reports, a special investigative commission says he got less than half the votes required for an outright win.
The findings of a UN-backed investigation are being assessed by an independent group whose decision is expected to be announced on Tuesday.
Karzai claims he received 54.6 percent of the votes during the elections in August. His opponents, however, said the results were invalid amid accusations of voting fraud.
Russian political analyst Yuri Krupnov is sure the pressure on Karzai has two main objectives.
“Actually there are two completely different tasks," Krupnov said. “The first one – crucially – is to actually review the election results. And the second one is to create a so-called coalition government and to introduce the post of prime minister – most probably it is envisaged for Zalmay Khalizad, in other words a high-ranking official from the United States.”
“The USA bears the responsibility for the situation one way or another,” Krupnov continued. “Moreover, it's a practical responsibility – money, people's lives and soldiers' lives. That's why they do not want to have the second round of the election, as the results are no longer predictable.”
19.10.2009, 19:00
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The Taliban controls 70% or more of Afghanistan, is gaining ground, and NATO support for the Afghan war is teetering and is essential to prevent the implosion of the Afghan state. Since the Afghan government is presently facing extremely potent and imminent existential threats, it cannot yet afford political division. Abdullah and Karzai can duke it out after the country is more secure and has more adequate infrastructure for elections. We can't afford to have either their supporters alienated; so if they can't agree to a power-sharing agreement now then perhaps NATO should abandon the project. Obama's delay in making a decision on whether to provide the extra 40,000 troops is being used to pressure the two sides into coming to an agreement. Since militarily no one seems to think that the status quo is sustainable or headed in a good direction, we are liable either to increase our commitment or else limit ourselves to minimalistic operations against Al Qaeda. Ultimately, Karzai and Abdullah may, in effect, decide which course we take.