Fragile Afghan Democracy Raises Questions about U.S. Goals

Afghan President Hamid Karzai agreed to a run-off election following a fraud-plagued first round but only after intense pressure from the U.S. the United Nations and the largest European countries. And that, the New York Times says, raises questions about "the wisdom and direction" of the U.S. effort eight years after the Taliban had been pushed out of Kabul.

While General Stanley McChrystal, the top American commander in the country, has warned that the U.S. effort could fail without a significant infusion of new troops, the Times says that the "astonishing level of fraud perpetrated" on Karzai's behalf may make Americans wonder what those troops will be fighting for.