Holbrooke, Karzai Have "Explosive Meeting" Over Afghan Election

[babylonsister]

US envoy 'in angry Karzai talks'
By Ian Pannell
BBC News, Kabul


The US special envoy to Afghanistan has held an "explosive" meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai over the country's election, the BBC has learnt.

Richard Holbrooke raised concerns about ballot-stuffing and fraud, by a number of candidates' teams, sources say.

The US envoy also said a second-round run-off could make the election process more credible, the sources said.

Concerns have already been raised about Afghanistan's election, although final results are not due until September.

A number of senior sources have confirmed the details of a meeting between Mr Holbrooke and Mr Karzai held on 21 August, one day after the election.

The meeting was described as "explosive" and "a dramatic bust-up".

Mr Holbrooke is said to have twice raised the idea of holding a second round run-off because of concerns about the voting process.

more...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8225745.stm

[tekisui]

1. Karzai is trying to steal it on the first round.

[EFerrari]

2. And Holbrooke is trying to put together a fig leaf. This is not news in any way. n/t

[tekisui]

4. Holbrooke is trying to put Ghani in as a CEO. He seems to be

the only one willing to be a US puppet. Just skip Abdullah Abdullah and ignore Karzai's fraud.

[Fozzledick]

3. "Ballot-stuffing and fraud"? Isn't that what Bush taught him?

:shrug:

[pennylane100]

5. Well Karzi might want to pay attention,

If we stop propping up his government and the taliban return, they will be playing horse polo with his head. Unless the taliban bans horse polo. Then his head will just be on a stick for public viewing, and supper for the vultures.

[FarCenter]

6. Looks like Karzai has been cutting deals

with the various warlords and leaders of the ethnic groups. Guys lik Dostum.

If he can mollify Abdullah Abdullah and the Tajiks after the election, he should be in a fairly solid position to survive. The key will be whether he can regulate and get a slice of the drug trade, and really become the over-boss.