It looks as if Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s Cabinet strategy is still in desperate need of repair. The majority of his nominees have once again been rejected by the parliament, casting doubt on his ability to lead in the country’s fractious political environment.

And let us not forget that Karzai holds power through an election debacle — e.g., fraud — and that his opponent in the 2009 runoff withdrew because he did not think the contest could be fair under the existing corrupt system. –JCL

The Guardian:

The Afghan parliament dealt a further blow to the authority of President Hamid Karzai by rejecting 10 of his 17 new cabinet nominees.

The vote today comes a fortnight after MPs turned down 70% of Karzai’s first cabinet choices.

The 224 MPs did approve two key posts — Karzai’s former security adviser Zalmay Rasul was approved as foreign minister and Habibullah Ghalib as justice minister.

But only one of three female nominees was approved — Amina Afzali, as work and social affairs minister. The two women proposed for the posts of public health and women’s affairs were rejected.

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