So Much for That

Afghan Runoff Canceled

As Ban Ki-moon visits Kabul.

Saturday's presidential runoff election in Afghanistan has been canceled, according to the chief officer on Afghanistan's election commission. It wouldn't have been much of an election anyway, since challenger and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah dropped out of the race on Sunday because he said the vote would not be free or fair, essentially guaranteeing a second term for President Hamid Karzai. On Monday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon flew into Kabul to discuss the safety of U.N. employees following last week's suicide attack, and to help broker a power-sharing agreement between Karzai and Abdullah that would have allowed the run-off cancellation. It is unknown whether such a deal was made.