Afghan elections mired in fraud concerns

Worsening insurgent violence in many parts of the country is raising concern about Afghanistan's ability to hold a fair parliamentary election in little more than a month, a crucial test of President Hamid Karzai's ability to deliver security and a legitimate government. After last year's troubled presidential election, both the government and its foreign supporters are under intense pressure to hold a credible vote for Parliament, scheduled for Sept. 18. Last time, insecurity, inadequate monitoring and rampant fraud led to a drawn-out dispute that soured relations between Karzai and his Western backers so badly that they have yet to recover the trust lost on both sides. As American commanders look toward a deadline to begin withdrawing troops next year, they would like the election to show that the government is capable of standing on its own. But already Western diplomats and observers are lowering expectations for the election, while Afghans are increasingly disillusioned and fatalistic about the prospects for democracy. Security has worsened in many places since last year, making it harder to get Afghan and international election observers to polling centers. Candidates have complained that they cannot reach districts where they need to campaign because it is too dangerous. "In the south there will be no free, fair, acceptable elections," said Haroun Mir, a political analyst, who is running for Parliament in Kabul. "You cannot open most sites there and guarantee security–so in half the country there will not be a safe election."