Afghan Vote Fraud: Whistleblower Speaks

Peter Galbraith is a career diplomat and former U.N. envoy who recently lost his post after alleging that the U.N. helped cover up fraud during and after the recent presidential election in Afghanistan.

Galbraith spoke from London with "CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric.

Couric: Your former boss at the U.N., the man who fired you, has now said that there was, quote, "widespread fraud" Afghanistan's presidential election. Do you feel vindicated?

Galbraith: Well, it is belated recognition of facts that we were telling him on the 21st of August - and that he consistently downplayed. I think it's unfortunate that it took seven weeks for him to come out and say it.

Couric: Should the Obama administration, in your view, have been tougher when evidence of fraud first surface?

Galbraith: I don't wanna speak about what the Obama administration should have done. I worked for the United Nations. And certainly, the United Nations could have done something to prevent the fraud before it took place. I tried to do that. But my boss, Kai Eide, stopped me.

Couric: President Karzai said Sunday that "foreign propaganda" was holding up the process. What do you think he meant by that?

Galbraith: Well he is continually trying to deflect the blame for the fraud that was committed on his behalf by suggesting that this is just bad news story, that it's a foreign propaganda. When I tried to intervene to preserve the integrity of the electoral process, he complained that I was engaged in foreign interference.

This, incidentally, in an election that the international community-- and above all, the Americans, had paid $300 million to conduct and in a country where 100,000 troops are fighting on behalf of the Afghan government. So, that this has been a continuing theme on his part. And it should not be taken at all seriously. In fact one should speak firmly to him and say, "This is unacceptable."

Couric: Do you think that Hamid Karzai can lead Afghanistan?

Galbraith: I think it's gonna be very tough for him to lead Afghanistan. Because he - he will, if he emerges from this process as the next president, he will somehow have to persuade the people who did not vote for him that he is the legitimate president. And given all the fraud, that's gonna be a tough sell.

Couric: Secretary of State Clinton told me last week that the U.S. has got to expect more from President Karzai. So, do you think there should be benchmarks or there should be some kind of-- close monitoring system? What?

Galbraith: There are 100,000 troops in Afghanistan, most of them American, fighting on behalf of the Afghan government, which may be well be led by Karzai. Of course, the United States-- should insist on-- improved performance from President Karzai. This is not the government of Afghanistan with regard to corruption and effective government, this is not just a matter for Afghanistan. It is a matter for the United States. Because our men and women are there fighting. And-- his corruption and ineffectiveness makes that task much more difficult.

Couric: You said last week that President Obama should not approve General McChrystal's request for 40,000 additional troops. Why?

Galbraith: The United States needs to have a credible partner in Afghanistan before the additional troops can accomplish their mission. And under these circumstances, with all this fraud, President Karzai is not gonna be a credible partner.