Election Fraud Leaves Afghan Democracy in Tatters
President Obama was right when he privately said he risks losing “the entire Democratic Party” over the war in Afghanistan. With public opinion already souring on the war, the president can’t afford much else to undermine confidence in the effort. Now it is known that President Karzai is on and off medication for manic depression and Afghanistan has held parliamentary elections with even more fraud and violence than the tainted “re-election” of Karzai.
This is now the second election in Afghanistan that has its credibility in tatters. The effect cannot be understated: The Afghan people are going to be disenchanted with democracy and an increasing number are going to simply give up on the political process. The voices among the American people saying the war isn’t worth it are going to get louder. At least Americans could point to Iraq’s elections as something beautiful and inspiring. Americans will not be so willing to send their soldiers to die for a government “elected” with excessive fraud and spend money propping it up during a recession.
