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02 Nov 2009 09:43

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World: Afghanistan settles on Hamid Karzai as its de facto president

We would call Hamid Karzai “The Comeback Kid,” but that might be offensive to both kids and comebacks. Let’s just call him “The.” source

01 Nov 2009 11:07

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01 Nov 2009 08:39

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World: What does Abdullah’s election pullout mean for Hamid Karzai?

  • Dr. Abdullah could make a lot of problems for him, because, firstly, they could refuse to recognize his legitimacy and also they could refuse to recognize his authority.
  • Afghanistan Centre for Research and Policy Studies head Haroun Mir • Describing what Hamid Karzai faces as a result of the election crisis created by Abdullah Abdullah’s departure from the process. The runoff will likely still take place – ballots with both men’s names have already been printed – but Abdullah’s refusal to take part means that if Karzai wins, it’s not going to be seen as legitimate. Beyond the bombings, the Taliban, the U.S. military presence, the dwindling poppy seed crop and the death tolls, it also sucks to be in Afghanistan for political reasons right now. • source

01 Nov 2009 08:28

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World: A “transparent election is not possible”: Karzai’s competition out

Afghanistan’s presidential election falls further into chaos after Abdullah Abdullah pulled out of a runoff for oversight reasons. Your move, Karzai. source

31 Oct 2009 09:22

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World: Protip for Hamid Karzai: Abdullah Abdullah needed for a runoff

  • Afghanistan’s leader is currently dealing with an angry challenger. When an election has widespread fraud, and you’re the biggest victim of the fraud, of course you’d be angry, right? Well, Abdullah Abdullah is so angry about it right now that he’s threatening not to be a part of the runoff. A runoff, by the way, that the U.S. had to pressure Hamid Karzai to take part in. In other news, who’s dressing as Hamid Karzai for Halloween this year? source

25 Oct 2009 09:43

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World: Hamid Karzai not interested in power-sharing Afghan leadership

  • In our view there is no alternative to a second round. This is the only constitutional way to establish a new government.
  • Hamid Karzai’s campaign spokesman, Wahid Omar • Speaking at a press conference about the possibility of a power-sharing government. While Karzai agreed to a runoff, his challenger, Abdullah Abdullah, is just a wee bit concerned about the fact that the Independent Election Commission may not be as “independent” as its name suggests, and in fact may have many members loyal to Karzai. • source

20 Oct 2009 09:23

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World: Hamid Karzai’s learning to live with the idea of a runoff

The Afghan president has the look of a man hoping that the “anyone but Karzai” grassroots campaign didn’t get off the ground. source
 

08 Sep 2009 10:28

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World: Afghanistan’s election results are officially a bad joke

  • 54.1% Hamid Karzai’s share of the vote with 92% of all votes counted – enough for him to avoid a runoff
  • 600 Number of polling stations with questionable results – many giving Karzai 100% of the vote source

01 Sep 2009 21:15

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World: Some in Afghanistan say the ballot-stuffing was blatant

  • Not a single person in Shorabak District cast a ballot — not a single person. Mr. Karzai’s people stuffed all the ballot boxes.
  • Afghan regional governor Delaga Bariz • Regarding claims of widespread vote-tampering across the country. According to Bariz and others, Hamid Karzai had some of his right-hand men come into the Shorabak region (which Abdullah Abdullah was destined to win), close the 45 local polling places, bring the ballot boxes to the election headquarters and stuff them with thousands of ballots favoring Karzai. Pretty serious allegations. • source

27 Aug 2009 10:42

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World: The Afghan presidential election has a lot of reports of fraud

  • 1,915 reports of fraud on the books so far source