afghanistan – Page 12 – 4VF News

Karzai rival claims widespread fraud in Afghan vote

Incumbent President Hamid Karzai’s chief rival, Abdullah Abdullah, repeated his charges of widespread ballot fraud Monday and declared that Karzai "single-handedly put Afghanistan at risk by trying to rig the elections." As Afghanistan’s elections commission prepared to release preliminary voting results in the nation’s presidential race on Tuesday, Abdullah told CNN in an interview that his campaign had received what he described as credible reports of fraud in the southern provinces, where security was poor and turnout less than 10 percent. Abdullah said ballot boxes were stuffed with additional votes, with 90 percent of them going to Karzai. “This is stealing the elections and it will not be accepted,” Abdullah said in the interview

Voter gripes abound as Afghans count presidential ballots

More than 200 allegations of irregularities in last week’s presidential elections in Afghanistan have been registered, according to the independent commission set up to handle such complaints. Despite domestic accusations from one of the presidential candidates that the vote was rigged, the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan called the election “a very well-organized campaign.” “The Afghan-led independent electoral commission looks like it managed a pretty good process,” Ambassador Karl Eikenberry said Sunday

Soldier, 59, is oldest U.S. service member to die in Afghanistan

A Vietnam veteran and Bronze Star recipient who volunteered to return to the Army and serve in Afghanistan became the oldest U.S. service member to die in combat there, the U.S. military announced Friday.

Rivals claim success in Afghan vote

Afghan leader Hamid Karzai’s campaign team claimed Friday he was on track for victory in the country’s presidential election, while his close rival Abdullah Abdullah also said he was leading the vote. Their claims came as election officials said the results of the vote, seen as a judgment on the Karzai government’s efforts in tackling Taliban insurgents, poverty and corruption, would be rolled out starting August 25.

Afghan count begins in tents

Election workers labored in tents by the light of battery-powered lanterns, counting ballots after a day of brisk voting Thursday. “Karzai, Karzai, Karzai,” repeated one worker as he stacked ballots into a growing pile

Blackwater Hit Squads: What Was the CIA Thinking?

The other shoe has dropped. CIA Director Leon Panetta, it turns out, ran up to up to Capitol Hill this June not simply to confess the CIA had a secret assassination program it never implemented but rather to confess it had sub-contracted the job out

John Kerry: Back in the Hunt

On a hot August afternoon in 2008, Ted Kennedy took John Kerry sailing on his 50-ft. schooner, the Mya.It was a perfect day on the water, sunny with the occasional cotton-ball cloud riding the strong winds over the family compound in Hyannis Port, Mass. With the Mya’s blue hull moving at a good clip, Kennedy turned to his old friend with reminiscences of failed campaigns past: Kennedy’s bid for the presidency in 1980 and Kerry’s in 2004.

Afghan police: Election day attacks averted

Police in northeast Afghanistan prevented two bomb attacks Thursday, as the country started voting in pivotal elections, authorities said.

Afghans begin voting in elections

The polls opened early Thursday in Afghanistan, as the war-ravaged nation held its second-ever presidential and provincial council elections.

Karzai’s record patchy in calm province

Agajan has a message for Afghanistan’s incumbent politicians. The turbaned, gap-toothed man may only be a humble shop-keeper, but on election day, Agajan will exercise his right and vote against the president. “I won’t vote for Hamid Karzai,” says Agajan, who according to local custom uses only one name.