This editorial appeared in The Kansas City Star.
Presidential elections in Afghanistan were initially scheduled for August, when security in the country is expected to be improved. But an August election would have come after President Hamid Karzai’s term expires on May 21.
Opposition groups declared that he should not be allowed to stay in office after that date. Instead, they said, he should resign and hand over power to an interim president.
Karzai, who is running for a second five-year term, has decided to scrap the August election and move up the date to April or May, a move that complies with the constitution.
It was the right decision.
NATO and Western officials had favored August elections, saying the extra time would allow for better organization and security. A total of 17,000 extra U.S. troops are expected to arrive by the end of April.
To read the complete editorial, visit The Kansas City Star.
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