The first election was, basically, a disaster. And, after eight years of neglect from the Bush administration, that flawed presidential race -- with no legitimate outcome -- put the U.S. in an even worse position. From Reuters:
Afghan President Hamid Karzai must face an election run-off against his main rival on November 7, officials said on Tuesday, to resolve a disputed first round that plunged the country into months of political uncertainty.So, Karzai's acceptance of the run-off is an important step for progress. And, it surely helped to have Senator John Kerry in Afghanistan when this decision was made.
