how can you be corrupt and a thug on friday but the legitimate leader of a nation on the next monday is beyond me. either the election was fraudulent, or it wasn't. if it was, then karzai wasn't suddenly a born again virgin just because double abdullah bailed out of the runoff.
I suspect that obama's "new and improved afghanistan policy" is finally finished, and he's ready to announce it. I never believed that doubts ab out karzai had anything to do with the administration's paralysis on afghanistan. I was always sure that it had more to do with the reaction of their political base when they saw that it wold take 40K troops.
White House Calls Karzai 'Legitimate' Leader of AfghanistanThe White House on Monday said Hamid Karzai is the legitimate leader of Afghanistan and declared that the laws of the nation "have prevailed," after Karzai's lone challenger dropped out citing concerns over fraud.
Abdullah Abdullah's decision to exit handed Karzai the race. The country's election commission on Monday canceled the runoff scheduled for Saturday and declared Karzai the winner.
President Obama plans to call Karzai Monday afternoon to discuss his victory, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said. Though administration officials were hoping the runoff could add some credibility to the election process, Gibbs offered White House backing to Karzai all the same.
"Obviously, he's the legitimate leader of the country," Gibbs said. "I think by all accounts this has been a difficult process. I think the president, the embassy there and everyone can take heart in the notion that the laws of Afghanistan and institutions have prevailed."
The United States and its allies earlier congratulated Karzai on winning a second term following the election commission's proclamation.
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