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US 'tried to oust Hamid Karzai by manipulating Afghan elections' US 'tried to oust Hamid Karzai by manipulating Afghan elections'
(35 minutes later)
The US government tried to oust the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, by manipulating elections in 2009, in what amounted to a "clumsy and failed putsch", the former defence secretary Robert Gates has been quoted saying in his memoirs. The US government tried to oust the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, by manipulating elections in 2009, in what amounted to a "clumsy and failed putsch", the former defence secretary Robert Gates has been quoted as writing in his memoirs.
Karzai has long claimed that the US tried to manipulate the poll to eject him from office, while Washington insisted it was an impartial supporter of democracy. The revelations from Gates's upcoming account of his years in power, including the war in Afghanistan, appear to vindicate the Afghan leader's suspicions. Karzai has long claimed that the US tried to manipulate the poll to remove him from office, while Washington insisted it was an impartial supporter of democracy. The revelations in Gates's account of his years in power, which is published next week and covers the war in Afghanistan, appear to vindicate the Afghan leader's suspicions.
The top diplomat Richard Holbrooke supported Karzai's rivals in the hope of pushing the poll to a second round that the incumbent would lose, Foreign Policy magazine reported. The top US diplomat Richard Holbrooke supported Karzai's rivals in the hope of pushing the poll to a second round that the incumbent would lose, Foreign Policy magazine reported.
"It was all ugly: our partner, the president of Afghanistan, was tainted, and our hands were dirty as well," Gates is quoted saying. "It was all ugly: our partner, the president of Afghanistan, was tainted, and our hands were dirty as well," Gates is quoted writing.
Karzai has cited concerns about foreign interference in a vote to choose his successor later this year as one reason he is delaying signing a long-term security pact with the United States to keep troops in the country after the combat mission ends in 2014. Karzai has cited concerns about foreign interference in a vote to choose his successor later this year as one reason for the delay in signing a long-term security pact with Washington to keep troops in the country after their combat mission ends later this year.
The deal is unlikely to be signed on the timetable the US government would like, the ambassador to Kabul warned in a secret cable leaked to the Washington Post.The deal is unlikely to be signed on the timetable the US government would like, the ambassador to Kabul warned in a secret cable leaked to the Washington Post.
American politicians and the military want it sealed early this year to allow for a smooth withdrawal of all other troops and planning for next year's mission, if troops stay on. US politicians and the military want it sealed early this year to allow for a smooth withdrawal and planning for next year if any troops stay on.
But ties with Kabul have been strained by a string of disagreements over civilian deaths, election planning, and other issues including the release of dozens of men who Karzai says are innocent and the US claims are a serious security threat. Ties with Kabul have been strained by a string of disagreements over civilian deaths, election planning and other issues, including the release of dozens of men Karzai says are innocent and the US claims are a serious security threat.
Washington insists that if there is no deal, it will take all troops home in a "zero option", but Karzai has argued that is an empty threat to bolster the US negotiating position. Washington insists that if there is no deal, it will resort to its "zero option" and take all troops home , but Karzai has argued that is an empty threat to bolster the US negotiating position.
Holbrooke, who was the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan but has since died, played a key role in 2009 efforts to remove Karzai from power, Gates says. While paying public lip-service to the idea of a level playing field, he was working behind the scenes to ensure the opposite. Holbrooke, who died in December 2010, was the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and played a key role in 2009 efforts to remove Karzai from power. He paid public lip-service to the idea of a level playing field, but was working behind the scenes to ensure the opposite, Gates writes: "Holbrooke was doing his best to bring about the defeat of Karzai… What he really wanted was to have enough credible candidates running to deny Karzai a majority in the election, thus forcing a runoff in which he could be defeated."
"Holbrooke was doing his best to bring about the defeat of Karzai," Gates writes. "What he really wanted was to have enough credible candidates running to deny Karzai a majority in the election, thus forcing a runoff in which he could be defeated." Tactics included advising candidates, attending their rallies and organising high-profile photo opportunities, the memoir claims. Karzai soon noticed the efforts, it adds.
Tactics included advising candidates, attending their rallies and having high-profile photo opportunities, the memoir claims. Karzai soon noticed the efforts, the memoir said. In the end, the election was plagued by serious fraud and worries about violence. The candidate who got through to a second round against the president eventually called off the vote and conceded defeat.
The election, in the end, was plagued by serious fraud and worries about violence. The candidate who got through to a second round against the president eventually called off the poll and conceded defeat even before a vote was cast because of concerns.
A White House spokesman, Caitlin Hayden, strongly denied Gates's claims. "The US's interest was in a stable Afghanistan, with credible democratic elections – not in helping any candidate win or lose," she said.A White House spokesman, Caitlin Hayden, strongly denied Gates's claims. "The US's interest was in a stable Afghanistan, with credible democratic elections – not in helping any candidate win or lose," she said.
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