President Karzai selects former warlord as Afghan election running mate

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May 4, 2009

Hamid Karzai today defied intense international pressure not to pick a former warlord as his running mate for his campaign to be elected as president of Afghanistan for another four years.

The president confirmed the fears of western diplomats by registering himself as a candidate in the 20 August poll along with Mohammad Fahim, whom he has selected as one of his two would-be vice-presidents.

The former militia leader, who goes by the honorary title of Marshal Fahim, is disliked by many Afghans who are suspicious of the wealth he has acquired since 2001 and disliked by the west for his opposition to the disbandment of the private armies of Afghanistan's warlords.

___A western official said: "The question really is: if Karzai gets killed on August 21 who is the president? It's Marshal Fahim. If he is just put in the presidential palace and given a good car and nice life then fine. But if he gets involved in policy then it's goodbye to the future of Afghanistan."


read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/04/afghanistan-president-hamid-karzai-election

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1. Karzai ignored UN pleas on Afghan VP choice-source

KABUL, May 4 (Reuters) - The U.N. mission head in Afghanistan begged President Hamid Karzai not to name as his running mate an ex-guerrilla chief linked to accusations of human rights abuses but was ignored, a diplomatic source close to him said on Monday.

The international diplomatic source said U.N. mission chief Kai Eide had repeatedly met Karzai in recent days to try to persuade him not to pick Fahim for the Aug. 20 poll.

Eide was "saddened" and "disturbed" by Karzai's choice and believed the concern was widely shared by the international community of diplomats in Kabul, the source said.

"He's been one of the known warlords in this country and has a history of human rights violations that's serious," the source said.

Rights groups also expressed alarm. Brad Adams, Asia director of New York-based watchdog Human Rights Watch, said Karzai "is insulting the country with this choice".

read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUSISL491644

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2. Karzai needs Fahim

Not only for the votes he can bring in (no one believes the election will be without massive fraud), but to extend his power outside of the city of Kabal.

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3. It's a very shrewd choice

. . . which fits in with his outreach to 'moderate' Taliban. It's also an interesting dilemma for those who believe our efforts there should produce some sort of Anglo-centric outcome.