The top challenger in a presidential runoff election in Afghanistan dropped out of the race today, citing concerns of fraud. The decision by Abdullah Abdullah clears the way for the incumbent President, Hamid Karzai, to lead the nation for another five years. There are continuing doubts about the legitimacy of the election and those doubts create headaches for the White House as it struggles to draw up a new battle plan for the Afghanistan War.

They will all feel the affect, the more than 100,000 allied troops and the Afghan people of the decision to quit next weekend's presidential runoff. Abdullah said, "I will not participate in the November 7th election." His exit from the presidential race hands victory to the incumbent, President Hamid Karzai, a victory that is tainted by massive fraud in the first election back in August. Still, Abdullah urged his followers to remain calm. "So that's the call for my supporters: not to get to the streets, not to go to the streets, no demonstrations."

President Karzai is now set up now set to rule the war-torn nation for another five years, partnering with the US amidst accusations that he is ineffective and corrupt.

Senator Joseph Lieberman said, "I think it is time for us to stop beating up on President Karzai and start building up President Karzai and his government to be the government we need , because they are not the enemy, the enemy is the Taliban." That enemy is inflicting heavy casualties. In fact, October was the deadliest month of the eight year war for U.S. forces.

President Obama is still considering a request to send 40,000 more troops. Valerie Jarrett said on This Week, "Before he puts our men and women into harms way, he wants to make absolutely sure that he has a strategy." That decision may now be pushed to later this month.

Some lawmakers are pushing Obama to act quickly and send more troops. Senator Joe Lieberman, an Independent, said, "it's time to send more help." House Republican leader John Boehner said today the longer the decision takes, the greater the danger to U.S. troops already on the ground.

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