More Conflict between Karzai and the International Community

The ECC (Election Complaints Commission) backed by and dominated by non-Afghans, claims there is clear and convincing evidence of fraud in the elections. This group even though it has a majority of non-Afghans on it has the power to discard votes that it concludes are fraudulent. But there is another body the IEC (Independent Electoral Commission) mainly appointed by Karzai. The two bodies are in conflict and this is part of a larger conflict between Karzai and the west. This is from antiwar.com. The dispute just adds one more worry for Obama. Obama and his allies may have difficulty selling the continued occupation of Afghanistan given the political situation.

""But now the controversy has found yet another complication, as the Independent Election Commission (IEC), a separate commission which was appointed entirely by Karzai, officially published the results, which effectively gives Karzai the victory under Afghan law.

What about the partial recount? The IEC rejected the ECC's documents, claiming there was a translation error in them. The IEC official went on to claim the ECC's call for a recount might not be legal, and added that if it did happen it could take two to three months to complete.

From the moment the election started, reports of fraud and voter intimidation began to emerge. Initially starting with public sales of extra ballots of a few dollars each and claims of ballot stuffing, eventually the reports came to include 800 completely fictitious polling sites at which Karzai performed remarkably well, and several other sites where Karzai apparently got every single vote.

The dispute is setting up another serious battle between Karzai and his Western backers. Most Western nations have conceded that the election was probably not legitimate, and Karzai for his part has claimed all the accusations are an American plot against him. ""