US envoy accused of being the power pulling Karzai's strings

[cal04]

In recent weeks, candidates in the presidential election to be held on Saturday have accused the US envoy of taking on a new role -- that of campaign manager for Mr Karzai -- in an exercise whose success is vital for the re-election hopes of George W. Bush.

Mr Karzai has long been seen as the US's man, and his backers have done little to challenge that perception. Rival candidates have complained to Afghanistan's election commission over the legality of the support the US provides to Mr Karzai, from Chinook helicopters to his well-armed bodyguards.

Most serious of all, opposition candidates are claiming the US is pressuring them to drop out of the race or seek deals. They contend that such interference could damage the credibility of what is being hailed as the first truly democratic election in Afghanistan's troubled history.


"We all know the Americans are not interested in a real election, they just want Karzai to win." Mr Khalilzad denies claims he has offered candidates deals in return for their dropping out of the race.
"It is very shameful what the Americans are doing," said Mohammed Qasim, a vice-presidential candidate on an opposition ticket.


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,10973959%5E2703,00.html

[acmavm]

1. What's the problem? These guys don't sound like team players.

Team bush* that is.

[daleo]

2. I like the headline

It gets right to the heart of the puppet image. I have seen lots of news reports lately about how swimmingly this election is going. I don't know, maybe it is true - I just find it hard to believe after 3 years of lies.

[Trajan]

3. You didnt even have to say his name ....

I would 'guess' that person would be:

Former UNOCAL associate ...

Former ENRON associate ...

CIA tool ...

Machiavelli of the first Loya Jirga ...

Oh: ... and Senior associate of the PNAC ....

Zalmay Khalilzad ...

[saigon68]

5. Yes another Bush Criminal

This guys roots go deep

[Lexingtonian]

4. what was that word....

Oh, yes. 'Electocracy". It's when you have elections but no actual democracy.

Like Hussein's 99.9% "victory" two years ago and Supreme Court's 5-4 in Bush v Gore, the fact of elections does not prove democracy is going on.