"Afghan Women March, America Turns Away" New York Times

[Captain_Nemo]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/opinion/20nadery.html?ref=opinion

Afghan Women March, America Turns Away

By NADER NADERY and HASEEB HUMAYOON
Published: April 19, 2009

"LAST November, extremists on motorbikes opposed to education for women sprayed acid on a group of students from the Mirwais School for Girls in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Several young women were severely burned. Yet it did not take more than a few weeks for even the most cruelly disfigured girls to return to school. Like the crowds of women in Kabul this week who protested a new law that restricts their rights, the Mirwais students demonstrate unbending courage and resolve for progress. They don’t fear much — except that the world might abandon them.

That is why President Obama’s Afghanistan-Pakistan policy speech last month and his administration’s related white paper are worrisome: both avoided any reference to democracy in Afghanistan, while pointedly pushing democratic reforms in Pakistan. The new policy represents critical shifts — such as a new emphasis on civilian work, and recognizing the regional nature of the problem and the inadequacy and abuse of resources. But a faltering commitment to the democratization of Afghanistan and ambiguous statements from Washington on an exit strategy have left us Afghans scratching our heads.

The Obama administration’s bold declaration of what is to be defeated (Al Qaeda) and absence of equal zest for what is to be built (democracy) inspires a sense of déjà vu. The last time the United States was seriously involved in Afghanistan, its goal was the defeat of the Soviet Union. But after that “success,” extremist militias greedy for power brought our society to its knees. In the absence of the rule of law and legitimate and democratic institutions, the militias’ atrocities allowed the Taliban to rise to power and harbor those behind the 9/11 attacks."

[Lorien]

1. Somebody send Obama a copy of "Charlie Wilson's War". nt

[boppers]

2. They didn't get the memo?

Yeah, Bush wanted to make Afghanistan a 51st state, but Obama realized that a centralized, liberal, democracy can't simply be forced into place by an external government.... heck, Afghanistan can't even manage to keep together a centralized *anything*, let alone reform that "anything" into a liberal democracy.

[MADem]

3. Our position in Afghanistan may become more important in the months ahead.

There goes the neighborhood....

http://www.smh.com.au/world/warning-that-pakistan-is-in-danger-of-collapse-within-months-20090412-a40u.html

[sfbabe3]

4. Then why more troups being sent to Afghanistan? Don't understand

If we are sending more troups to Afgahnistan, then why the downplay of democracy efforts? The situation of women
is grotesque, but they we send troups there to just keep it that way?
Also, we were promised an end to the war by Obama's campaign speeches. Iraquis now can go out to nightclubs at night, so
safety is much better. The wind-down is going on there, but then more troups to Afghanistan? I'm confused about what is going on--
more troups? Less democracy? and what about this dreadful situation for Afghan women?