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2003-12-09 Afghanistan

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Posted by Steve White 2003-12-09 1:04:05 AM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 There are disturbing things about these 'advancements' in Afghanistan.

Using a law passed in the mid-70s, Karzai's government is prohibiting thousands of young married women from attending high-school classes. It's a big blow for female students, who had been denied the right to be educated under the hardline Taliban regime. LINK

Article 3, of the draft constitution, condemns any law "contrary to the sacred religion of Islam." Accordingly, the Holy Koran, the Sunna and Sharia, as interpreted and applied by mullahs, are the supreme law of the land. LINK

Posted by Gasse Katze 2003-12-9 2:13:33 AM|| 2003-12-9 2:13:33 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 We will probably be more comfortable with the constitution that the Iraqi's create. I expect civil society will leach through Iran after the coming upheaval in whatever form it takes.

Social overreaching in Afghanistan will just hand the country back to the Taliban. Afghan history is full of governments that held no power outside of Kabul while the countryside remained lawless.

I don't particularly care for the compromise on slavery that was required to get a constitution ratified in the US in the 18th century. Socially, the forefathers were centures ahead of the hinterland Afghan tribes with respect to women's rights.

Posted by Super Hose 2003-12-9 4:39:27 AM|| 2003-12-9 4:39:27 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 how many married women were in school in the US in 1789?

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-12-9 9:31:39 AM|| 2003-12-9 9:31:39 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 SH and LH--Good points. We can't expect Afghanistan to become a utopia for human rights overnight. However, it's not 1789 anymore, and I hope we haven't sacrificed so much blood, sweat, and money just to get a Taliban Lite^TM government installed. If nothing else, installing a secular government has got to be the highest priority. Women will have a much better chance to claim their rights eventually under a secular government.

Posted by Dar 2003-12-9 10:14:37 AM|| 2003-12-9 10:14:37 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 we spent blood sweat and money in Afghanistan to get rid of the people who flew planes into the WTC and the Pentagon. At the same time, as a SIDE benefit, we're leaving the Afghan people FAR better off than they were. If afghan ends up with a govt that defers to mullahs on some issues, instead of being run by mullahs - that lets women go to elementary school, and go to high school and university EXCEPT when theyre married instead of one that made it a crime for girls to go elementary school - that gives women the vote and has women cabinet ministers etc then we've done our job. Making Afghanistan into a secular state like Turkey would take 100,000 or more troops, and would likely fail anyway (see the USSR and 1979)

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-12-9 11:05:41 AM|| 2003-12-9 11:05:41 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 LH, I agree that the Russians totally ignored the people that actually lived in Afghanistan and tried to lay a Xerox of their own government and society.
Continued pressure on Pakistan to improve human rights will leach into Afgahnistan as well. It will probably leach faster as we improve the Afghan infrastructure.

Posted by Super Hose 2003-12-9 11:44:13 AM|| 2003-12-9 11:44:13 AM|| Front Page Top

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