Karzai wins a majority in Afghan election amidst widescale reports of vote fraud
source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/09/world/asia/09policy.html?em
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On Tuesday, the United Nations-backed commission that is the ultimate arbiter of the vote said it found “clear and convincing evidence of fraud” at several polling stations and ordered a partial recount.
Election officials said Mr. Karzai won 54.1 percent of the vote, a percentage that, if certified, would spare him a runoff against his main rival, Abdullah Abdullah, who received 28.3 percent.
But in recent days, the Obama administration has grown increasingly alarmed by the raft of allegations that ballot-stuffing and phantom polling stations generated lopsided margins in favor of Mr. Karzai.
For the United States, the problem is twofold: the fraud complaints against Mr. Karzai are almost certain to undercut his legitimacy if he is sworn in for another term as president, and American officials want whoever is president to have credibility with the Afghan people and with the international community.
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But it also reflects a recognition that the administration will have to keep dealing with Mr. Karzai, especially as it enters a treacherous phase in its engagement in Afghanistan. Raising too many doubts about Mr. Karzai’s legitimacy could make it impossible to work with him later.
“Even if we get a second round of voting, the odds are still high that Karzai will win,” said Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who advised the administration on its Afghan policy. “We have a fundamental interest in building up the legitimacy of the Karzai government.”
Election officials said Mr. Karzai won 54.1 percent of the vote, a percentage that, if certified, would spare him a runoff against his main rival, Abdullah Abdullah, who received 28.3 percent.
But in recent days, the Obama administration has grown increasingly alarmed by the raft of allegations that ballot-stuffing and phantom polling stations generated lopsided margins in favor of Mr. Karzai.
For the United States, the problem is twofold: the fraud complaints against Mr. Karzai are almost certain to undercut his legitimacy if he is sworn in for another term as president, and American officials want whoever is president to have credibility with the Afghan people and with the international community.
. . .
But it also reflects a recognition that the administration will have to keep dealing with Mr. Karzai, especially as it enters a treacherous phase in its engagement in Afghanistan. Raising too many doubts about Mr. Karzai’s legitimacy could make it impossible to work with him later.
“Even if we get a second round of voting, the odds are still high that Karzai will win,” said Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who advised the administration on its Afghan policy. “We have a fundamental interest in building up the legitimacy of the Karzai government.”
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