Ballot Boxing in Iraq and Afghanistan

U.S. lawmakers blocked a proposed "covert CIA operation to aid [Iraqi] candidates favored by Washington" - suggested because their opponents might have "covert backing from other countries, like Iran." Leading up to Afghanistan's October 9 elections, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad stands accused of "pushing behind the scenes to ensure a convincing victory by the pro-American incumbent, President Hamid Karzai." Author Rahul Mahajan recaps the "well-documented history of 'managed' elections" in Afghanistan and Iraq. "Apparently, the Bush administration is happy with elections in places it controls ... as long as there are no choices (when there are, as in Florida, strange things can happen)."