Afghans learned this week that they have to vote again to choose between two would-be presidents. On the surface, that’s seemingly good news for Washington; both candidates are thought to be anti-Taliban, anti-al-Qaeda, and for a U.S. security deal.

But danger lies in this second round between frontrunner and former Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and former Finance Minister Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. The revote could expose Afghans to risk from the Taliban, delay a U.S. security deal and possibly make a smaller U.S. footprint or none at all a fait accompli. Worst of all, the second round could pit the two Afghan contenders against each other in an ugly fight that could preclude much needed political cooperation when the election is done—tension evident when both men sat down to talk to The Daily Beast last week.

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