'We Don't Have Any Alternative to Karzai' - washinghonpost

That paradox reflects Afghans' deep suspicion of anyone promising change. In recent decades, Afghans have lived through periods of horrific violence and destruction, with each successive regime bringing greater deprivation than the last. Many Afghans reason that although Karzai's government has been disappointing, it could always be worse.

Many Afghans also have misgivings about Karzai's most prominent opponent, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, a Tajik whose ethnicity makes him unacceptable to a large number of Pashtuns, the nation's dominant ethnic group. 'We Don't Have Any Alternative to Karzai' :
Why Afghans Need a Vote
'People Will Come with Their Kalashnikovs': Threat of Violence ...

Obama reaches out to Islamist parties in Pakistan