Obama Delays Afghan Escalation Decision, Citing Election Uncertainty
US Still Hoping for 'Credible and Legitimate' Election
According to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emaneul, President Obama has decided to delay announcing his final decision on how large of an escalation to approve in Afghanistan until the uncertainly surrounding August’s heavily fraudulent election is resolved.
“The result, for us and for the president, is whether, in fact, there’s a credible government and a legitimate process,” Emanuel insisted, adding that it would be “reckless” to decide until the situation is resolved.
That resolution is likely far from forthcoming, as the Election Complaints Commission has reportedly put Karzai’s final vote count at only 47 percent, necessitating a recount.
Holding the recount would be enough of a difficulty so close to winter, but Karzai has reportedly rejected the call despite mounting evidence of enormous fraud on his behalf.
Western officials are reportedly pressing Karzai pretty heavily to accept the runoff or make a deal with opposition candidate Abdullah Abdullah to avoid it in a relatively credible fashion, and today’s comments from the administration are likely a continuation of that pressure more than a serious threat to trim the military commitment to the endless was in Afghanistan.
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MvGuy
October 19th, 2009 at 4:16 am
WTF……….. Is Karzai the Diem of today?? An accident perhaps??? You couldn't make this stuff up..
Karzai says NO to a runoff..??? The U.N. is lookin like a buffoon…….. Whatz Next…!!!???
Peacegeek
October 19th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Whatever comes next, we should be thankful that Obama is not buying McChrystal's massive escalation – yet. In fact, it is hard to fault Obama's handling of McChrystal – that said we still do not know what his final decision will be. According to Seymour Hersh, Obama ought to fire McChrystal who was insubordinate by pushing Obama to accept his slipshod report that was little more than an ultimatum – then going off to London to hold an international press conference to blast Obama for wasting time. Obama should fire him and send him to Alaska.