Reports Link Karzai’s Brother to Afghanistan Heroin Trade

[Peter Presland]

This thread seemed the best home for this. The whole Afghan election saga has moved beyond farce.

From USA Today:

KABUL — The main challenger to Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced Sunday he was withdrawing from the Nov. 7 presidential runoff, dealing a potential blow to the government's legitimacy at a time when President Obama is weighing a decision to send thousands of additional troops into the fight there.
Abdullah Abdullah made his defiant announcement inside a tent packed with hundreds of supporters, including tribal leaders wearing turbans who sat near the front of the audience. Supporters interupted his speech with scattered applause and cries of Allah Akbar, God is great.


The decision leaves Afghanistan's government in a fragile position and heightens political tensions at a sensitive time. Karzai's popularity is waning amid charges of corruption and incompetence as it struggles against a growing insurgency.
"I think the government will have a difficult time," said Sayed Eshaq Gilani, an Abdullah supporter and member of parliament. "The most important thing is legitimacy."
Karzai's campaign spokesman, Waheed Omar, said it was "very unfortunate" that Abdullah had withdrawn but that the Saturday runoff should proceed.
"We believe that the elections have to go on, the process has to complete itself, the people of Afghanistan have to be given the right to vote," Omar said.

It should be vintage entertainment to watch the contortions of Clinton et al over this one.