Corrupt Election Followed by Runoff Withdrawal?

The AP reported:

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says Abdullah Abdullah's call for a boycott of next weekend's runoff election in Afghanistan will not affect the legitimacy of that runoff.

The reason for the runoff is widespread election fraud. Senator John Kerry brokered the deal calling for a runoff between President Hamid Karzai and challenger Abdullah Abdullah. Kerry gave three weeks notice of the new election. How much can a country's election system change in 21 days? Not much.

No wonder Abdullah Abdullah withdrew from an election that produced hundreds of thousands of fake ballots. Sec. of State Hillary Clinton's calling anything about the Afghan election "legitimate" is patently absurd. Hillary wasn't the only one at a microphone. Bloomberg reported:

Kerry expressed confidence in Karzai’s ability to recover from allegations that his government is corrupt and engaged in fraud in the first round of elections Aug. 20.

Apparently, American leaders are consistent in their ridiculous statements.

Update: Abdullah Abdullah withdrew from the runoff in a Sunday morning announcement.

Two Nobels Equal Non-Peace

U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli President Shimon Peres each have a Nobel Peace Prize. They are aligned in addressing possible war crimes in Israel's pummeling of Gaza, where noble President Elect Obama sat on his hands for 23 days. Both the Obama administration and Israel will fight the investigation report by Judge Goldstone. A news report stated:

Richard Goldstone concluded that both Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers, committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during the conflict that Israel launched in response to rocket fire from the Palestinian territory.

On Tuesday, (US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan) Rice met (President Shimon) Peres and vowed that the US would "continue to stand by Israel as a loyal friend in the fight against the Goldstone report," according to a statement from Peres's office on Wednesday.

Israel called the endorsement by the UN Human Rights Council a "diplomatic farce" and said it harmed Middle East peace efforts.

Goldstone himself rejected the Israeli argument, saying there was currently no peace process to save.

Two Nobel's and not a peace process in sight? Sad.

"Nuclear Weapon Free" Middle East Meeting Produces Smile

Israel and Iran attended a nuclear disarmament meeting last month. The Toronto Star reported:

Delegates from Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, India, the United States, France and Britain were among the 24 participants at the Cairo conference.

The media continue to play their lapdog part:

Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear arms, though it refuses to confirm or deny it. Iran denies international allegations it's secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Did they forget Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert admitting Israel had nuclear weapons, naming his country in a list of those with the Bomb.

Israel gets to keep their secret, even in front of the 24 participants:

Iran's representative, Ali Ashgar Soltanieh, meanwhile, asked Zafary-Odiz point-blank if Israel has nuclear weapons, the paper said. It quoted eyewitnesses as saying she smiled but did not respond.

If the International Commission on Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament can't start off with the facts, they have a very tough road to hoe. It gets worse if America remains Israel's lapdog.

"Winning the Peace" Involves American Economic Model

Who knew peace had to be won? When did peace carry a ROI, return on investment? General David Petraeus says it's so. I respectfully disagree.

Peace doesn't require another to lose. It can occur independent of economic situations, albeit shortages and bribes work against its expression. Hegemonic powers use economic manipulations, along with cultural divide and conquer, to keep conflict going. Keep the little people occupied. They won't see the powerful raping their country.

David Petraeus offers "bait and switch" on peace. Tony Blair initiated the term "economic peace" in regard to Palestinians. He did so just before Israel razed Gaza, while President elect Obama sat on his hands.

Economic peace means the military obliterates the opposition. Afterwards, American branded multinationals dangle potential jobs at the behest of (and large funding from) U.S. and country leaders. Subsidized corporations pay shell shocked survivors a pittance for their efforts. When the profits approach high tide, the division is sold off for the big ka-ching.

Think I'm wrong. The Carlyle Group has their eye on Iraq, in addition to Turkey, Libya and Saudi Arabia. The Carlyle Group may be good at winning (while setting the stage for an economic crisis), but they know little about peace or quality.

America exports abysmal management theory and practices. David Petraeus' "winning the peace" line, Obama's neocon on Iran and the latest Beltway stink tank confirm it.

Update: There's a reason Tony Blair loves economic peace. It provides him with a piece of the action.