Hamid Karzai gets clear road to re-election as challengers fall by wayside

Source: The Times

From The Times
May 4, 2009

Tom Coghlan in Kabul

President Karzai's re-election campaign in Afghanistan appears almost unassailable amid opposition disarray and with less than a week to go for candidates to register for the battle.

The Afghan President's likely re-election in the August poll follows increasing Western criticism of the corruption and incompetence of his government and despite polling data seen by The Times suggesting that he enjoyed only 15 per cent of popular support at the start of the year.

The US and Britain have been vocal in their scepticism that Mr Karzai can rebuild his war-torn nation.

However, that possibility now appears remote and with five days until declarations for presidential candidates end, about 64 people have applied for application papers but only two have so far submitted them. Mr Karzai is expected to register his candidacy today.



Read more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6216878.ece

a compromise candidate. Most Afghans hate Karzai, but finding a candidate that can unite the opposition is hard to do. I'm losing hope. I hate to say it, but if Karzai wins it may be time to cut our losses and leave.

Ex CIA Operative and notorious Chimpanzee Foot Licker

Just like Saddam Hussein.

Well, not just like Saddam. We finally decided we didn't like him very much. But, oh boy! do we like Hamid! This month, anyway.