http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/05/AR201101...

It seems a bit curious that the Washington Post is not able to give Abbas his correct title: "dictator".
Abbas had one year after the end of his term, in January 2009, to do new PA elections. This is according to PA rules.
He did not. Hence, he is no more the president of the PA but its dictator.
Hence, the following quote is much easier to understand:

Dahlan's rapid downfall, like attacks on other critics of the president, also reveals the extent to which the West - despite its preaching of democracy - seems inclined to look the other way as Abbas uses largely unchecked powers to dress down political rivals.

Abbas is a dictator with the tacit approval of the Western democracies. Why? Because they know the alternative is even worse, which indeed says a lot!