Karzai Angered by Afghan Election Critics

(AP)  Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday acknowledged irregularities in the Aug. 20 presidential election while arguing it was "good and fair and worthy of praise, not scorn."

Interviewed from Kabul on ABC's "Good Morning America," Karzai declined to insert himself publicly in the current Obama administration internal debate over possible changes in war policy. But he did say he's "fully behind" U.S. commanding Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who reportedly has told President Obama that as many as 40,000 additional forces are needed.

"I have seen Gen. McChrystal's report," Karzai said. "I am not a military expert. ... What I'm concerned about is the protection of the Afghan people."

Questioned repeatedly about allegations of widespread corruption in the Aug. 20 election, Karzai said international criticism of the balloting "makes me angry." But he conceded "irregularities" at the same time. The international community should not turn the election into "the nightmare of the Afghan people," Karzai told ABC's Diane Sawyer.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan

Preliminary results show that Karzai won with 54.6 percent. A five-member United Nations-backed panel is investigating charges of corruption in the election, and its decision on how many votes to throw out will determine whether Karzai wins outright or if a runoff with top challenger Abdullah Abdullah, a former foreign minister, will be required.

New charges have flared this week amid the resignation of a chief fraud investigator. One of the two Afghans on the Electoral Complaints Commission, Maulavi Mustafa Barakzai, resigned Monday because, he said, the three foreigners on the commission were "making all the decisions on their own."

A deputy campaign manager for Abdullah called the resignation a move by the Karzai campaign to call into question the validity of the fraud investigations.

"Barakzai's resignation has direct connection to Karzai. It was Karzai's idea," Saleh Mohammad Registani said. "Karzai is trying to bring the work of the ECC into question." He said Barakzai was widely considered to be biased toward Karzai.

Representatives for Karzai could not immediately be reached for comment.

Of the election in general, Karzai said that some statements criticizing the balloting and vote count were "totally fabricated."

"There were instances of fraud, no doubt. There were irregularities," he said. "But the election as a whole was good and free and democratic."

Karzai said Barakzai's resignation has cast doubt on the functioning of the commission and said officials should "do everything now to remove those suspicions and to remove any of the stigmas and to prove that it is impartial and not dictated from outside from foreign enemies."

"As you have debates in America, you have problems in America, as you have corruption in America, we have them too in Afghanistan," he said, "but on a much larger scale because our country is underdeveloped and devastated by years of war."

Asked if he was suggesting the U.S. election system is insecure, Karzai replied, "No, I'm talking of the existence of issues in governments and the way to handle them."

"Afghanistan has its separate problems and we have to handle them as Afghanistan finds it feasible," he said. "This country was completely destroyed ... Today, we are talking about fighting corruption in Afghanistan, improved legal standards ... You see the glass half empty or half full. I see it as half full. Others see it as half empty."

[Aziz-u-Rahman]

I have never seen someone one admits that he has committed treason against the national interest of his country, the same Karzai is doing.
Only one single supporter of Karzai called Mawlavi Trarakhel who is one of the most extremist pashtoon against education of girls, rigged 80,000 vote for Karzai. Many European diplomats in Kabul asserted that as much as 800 pooling station were generated by Karzai supporters who are working in the election commission, which these poling stations never existed physically. In the insecure areas were the turn out was expected to be less than 5%, the turn out was shown more than 99% and all of them for Karzai. These all in addition that Karzai formed coalition with some of the most popular Human Rights abusers and very well know drag dealers.

[nearl451]

Karzai is between a rock and a hard place. If Afghanistan had some modicum of a sustainable ecomomy (besides poppies), stability could be attainable.

The election fraud is his own fault, however, and makes it nearly impossible to back him.

[nearl451]

Karzai is between a rock and a hard place. If Afghanistan had some modicum of a sustainable ecomomy (besides poppies), stability could be attainable.

The election fraud is his own fault, however, and makes it nearly impossible to back him.

[SocietysNightmare]

What a joke. Karzai will not last a week after US troops are withdrawn, and I'm sure he knows it. The TALIBAN will regain control of Afghanistan. There's not much anyone can do to stop it.

[burneb]

Obama is pretty much stuck with the Afghan government he inherited, since any meaningful changes forced by our current administration would be seen and opposed by Afghans as foreign interference.

If we built thousands more streets there and paved them with gold, most Afghans would still resent us kafirs (unbelievers) for ever being there.

They have never had an honest or capable government on any level, and would probably hate one if they saw it. I hear the same about Chicago, the people just aren't ready for honest government.

Not that I know how to improve their governance, but if we learned anything from Vietnam, the regime we support must eventually become credible to its own people or it will collapse on us.

[decotoguy]

How can the MUSH FOR BRAINS AMERICAN people call this man a dishonest
cheater,willing to have people killed for his desire for POWER.
He has everyone's interest at heart.He's a god fearing man,a good
friend of America's worst president of all time.I see no problem,
in fact why don't America send every able-body knuckle-head,numb-skull
to die for this CIA PUPPET.If I was a FOOL I'll sign up for the ARMY
right now.I'll be willing to commit suicide like every other FOOL.
But,I see and read between the lines,

[newsworthy8]

Here is my comment to you Karzai, you make me very angry beyond words because you want our troops over in your ******** country to defend you and your garbage people..and you and your people support the drug industry while our troops sacrifice their lives.
Crap to you Karzai!!!!!

[rocketjl]

Hey, here is another false god that slicked his way into power. Fraud, lying, and cheating are bad things, but a lot of leaders have done it to get into power in their countries. Obama puts the OK of this stuff and plans to deal with these guys as legal leaders of their countries. ???????

[bosniahertz]

DO YOU NOT REALIZE THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION PUT THIS JOKE OF A LEADER WHERE HE IS TODAY.