Waiting for Obama

wsj ^ | Today

[jessduntno]

Afghanistan's messy election ended yesterday with President Hamid Karzai securing another five-year term after his challenger withdrew and a run-off was called off. Maybe now President Obama can get on with his job as Commander in Chief of deciding whether this really is the "war of necessity" he pledged for two years to fight.

Mr. Karzai's election should put to rest the doubts about his "legitimacy" heard in America's liberal media and in whispers from the Administration, even if it won't. He won that legitimacy by agreeing to a second round, once the official electoral commission invalidated enough of his votes to deprive him of a majority, in accordance with Afghan law.

In the end Abdullah Abdullah, who came in second in August, declared that the run-off would be as crooked as the first round and dropped out. Always unlikely to win even in an honest vote, Dr. Abdullah is serving his own political interest here in avoiding a formal defeat and claiming the moral high ground in opposition. But in a larger sense, he has behaved responsibly and opposed any mass protest against the government.

The Obama Administration also hurt its own cause by preparing inadequately for the election, and by broadcasting so publicly its distaste for Mr. Karzai. Both Vice President Joe Biden and special envoy Richard Holbrooke had showdowns with the Afghan leader that were ostentatiously leaked. The point seems to have been to show they could be tougher on Mr. Karzai than President Bush was. But the price of that pique is that they now have less influence as they press the Afghan to improve the competence of his government. However imperfect, Mr. Karzai is our man whether we like it or not.

[jessduntno]

"Our view is that you should never start wars you don't intend to win, and if Mr. Obama recommits to Afghanistan only because he doesn't want to be seen to lose, he should tell everyone now and not waste another American life."

My view, too...

[kralcmot]

Both Vice President Joe Biden and special envoy Richard Holbrooke had showdowns with the Afghan leader

what? no mention of Senator John (”I served in Viet Nam”) Kerry? I saw a foto just the other day and a news story and lots of speculation that he was sent by the One to deliver the final blow to Karzai.

that really worked out well