John Kerry: Too Soon To Send More Troops To Afghanistan

By Steve Hynd

AP (sorry) is reporting that Senator John Kerry has said it would be irresponsible and misguided to send more troops to Afghanistan at this point, while that nation is still in turmoil over its crooked election.

Kerry follows the usually-hawkish Dem,  Rep. Jane Harman, who earlier this week said that any further increases "wouldn't be well received" on Capitol Hill and called the Afghan election "a total fiasco".

Harman is facing a strong primary challenge from anti-war progressive Marcy Winograd, and her new stance - a 180 from that implied by her appearance at the launch of Bill Kristol's new neocon Foreign Policy Initiative think-tank - refects the queasiness many Dem lawmakers are feeling at being put between their president and their base with midterms fast approaching.

Kerry's caution seems to be well advised. Today AFP reports threats of protests, strikes and even violence if the West ushers in a new Karzai presidency.

“The people of Balkh will not keep quiet. They will react,” said Abdullah’s campaign manager in the province, Zalmai Yunusi, warning that “jihadi figures in Balkh will stand against the government”.

In neighbouring Kunduz, Abdullah’s campaign manager and lawmaker Qari Rehmatullah, said: “Fraud was so obvious in this election.

“If despite fraud Karzai is elected, this will make an illegitimate government and an illegitimate president. People will defend their legal rights.

“They will protest, strike and demonstrate. If people are not permitted to react and if force is used against them, then they will resort to similar measures.”

On the street in the town of Balkh, Mohammad Sadiq, 34, said: “We will not accept Karzai as president through fraudulent votes. We, the nation of Balkh, will not keep quiet and will stand against the government.”

Motorbike seller Haseebullah Ehsan, 42, added: “If Karzai is announced the winner, for us it will not acceptable. Forty percent of the votes Karzai got were fraudulent and the election should go to a second round.”

Karzai’s supporters have rejected calls for another round of voting, after a low first-round turn-out because of fears of Taliban violence.

Sardar Sayidi, the president’s campaign manager in the north, said: “There should be no second round. Our votes must be respected and the winner, whoever it is, should be announced.

Kerry told CNN's State of the Union today that it would be misguided escalate U.S. troops pursuing a mission of "good governance" while the Afghan election is unfinished. Even General McChrystal has expressed worries about the lack of options if Afghans see their government as illigitimate.