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Reports

What Option for Afghan Women?

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Posted on Nov 5, 2009

By Ellen Goodman

It’s been 11 years since I looked through a photo album smuggled out of Afghanistan by a brave young woman. “This is a doctor,” she said, pointing to one picture. “This is a teacher.” It was impossible to tell one woman from another under the burqas enforced by their Taliban rulers.

Back then, the world turned a cataract eye on Afghan women. Under virtual house arrest, they were barred from work, from school, from walking alone or even laughing out loud. It was arguably the greatest human rights disaster for women in history.

After 9/11, when we went after al-Qaida and the Taliban, which had hosted these terrorists, many saw collateral virtue in the liberation of Afghan women. Indeed, President George W. Bush played this moral card in his 2002 State of the Union speech when he declared to thunderous applause: “Today women are free, and are part of Afghanistan’s new government.” Mission accomplished.

Many women shed their burqas, opened schools, entered parliament. Equal rights were written into the constitution. But slowly, as America turned to the disastrous misadventure in Iraq, Afghan women’s freedoms were casually traded in like chits for power.

Now again, we’re focusing on this beleaguered country and its sham leader. The discussion is cast in military terms—more troops, less troops. Yet I keep thinking about the women who are once again pushed to the outskirts of the conversation, as if they were an add-on rather than a central factor.

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Have you heard this old proverb? Whether the rock hits the pitcher or the pitcher hits the rock, it’s going to be bad for the pitcher. Women are the pitcher in this story.

If we abandon the country, or even the countryside, don’t we abandon those girls who have gone to school even when risking acid thrown in their eyes? If we prop up the deeply corrupt government of President Hamid Karzai, are we just supporting warlord fundamentalists instead of Taliban fundamentalists?

The options are so chilling that even Afghan women’s groups are divided. RAWA, the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, wants us out. WAW, the Women for Afghan Women, “deeply regrets having a position in favor of maintaining, even increasing troops” rather than “abandoning 15 million women and children to madmen.”

American women seem equally torn—ambivalent is far too gentle a word. The Feminist Majority, which championed Afghan women long before it was popular, has stopped short of asking for more troops. Ellie Smeal’s anger at American funding of warlords is matched by the fear that if we back out, it will create “terrible human suffering,” the return of the prison state. Ann Jones, the author of “Kabul in Winter,” confesses to agonizing about deserting Afghan women while fearing that Karzai’s henchmen and the Taliban are “brothers under the skin.” And Susannah Sirkin of Physicians for Human Rights says ruefully, “I don’t think if you ask women and girls that they would easily say their lives are better since 2001. The best you could say is that there is more cause for hope.”

We shouldn’t be surprised we have come to this pass. It happened on our watch. We barely noticed when Karzai signed a law that would have, among other things, allowed Shiite men to withhold food from wives who refused them sex. It didn’t take a rigged election to show a shallow respect for democracy. If by democracy, that is, you include half the population that is female.

Today, one-third of the students are girls. Women now get health care once denied them. Is that enough? How much are we willing to pay in lives and treasure for hope? How much are we willing to lose in moral suasion, in our own eyes and those of the world, if we abandon these women?

I find this a bleak and demoralizing set of choices. The least unbearable may be to protect the population centers while rebuilding Afghan civil society, one city, one school, one health center at a time. But this works only if we include women in a debate that has been as militarized as war itself.

Afghan women are not the “add-on,” the incidentals in this process. Women are civil society. We’ve learned all over the world that the only way to develop a stable society and economy is with the education and inclusion of women. There is no democracy without women.

So, here we go. This is our last chance. And theirs.
   
Ellen Goodman’s e-mail address is ellengoodman1(at)me.com.
   
© 2009, Washington Post Writers Group


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By radson, November 6 at 9:55 pm #

The answer to the question is obvious,historically it has always been ,make babies and keep the hut clean

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By johannes, November 6 at 5:54 pm #

About the German Berlin-wall, he is fallen why Gorbat chef had to do it, otherwise their had be an 3 world war.

The people living in the east German countrys, are more or les disillutionated, by the way of living and thinking in the West German countrys, money money and money, the people have lost out on social living.

Wise men just afther the war did no allready that this promesses about never again an great Germany, and never again an army where just a peace of theater, the nazi where never far away, the Americans where all ready using the old police and even Gestapo men.

The demonisation of Russia and everything to do with socialistic thinking, the anti propaganda where started up very soon, their wash money to by made, and people who are afraid do what their is told.

My feeling is still, who is who, and what is what, we are used all the time, in the WW11 their where eliminated about 50 million humans, but thats the price to be paid for making money, real big money, and power.

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By paul bass, November 6 at 5:20 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

, the Women for Afghan Women, “deeply regrets having a position in favor of maintaining, even increasing troops” rather than “abandoning 15 million women and children to madmen.”

wonderfull idea

lets embed a marine in every marriage since we know if any one in the world is a model of respect for women in the united states military

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By P. T., November 6 at 2:52 pm #

If really sincere about wanting to help Muslim women, Ellen Goodman could urge that the U.S. quit trying to block implementation of the Goldstone Report on the Israeli invasion of Gaza.  That’ll be the day.

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By drbhelthi, November 6 at 11:27 am #

The mistreatment of moslem women did not begin with the founding of the USofA, nor will it stop when the NAZI/zionist/illuminati conglomerate, with assistance of CIA treasonous pimps, pull the plug on the USofA, perhaps Jan 2010. Hurrah for the CIA folk who continue to be patriots. Hang in there, guys !!!

Nor is it “kosher” to propagate “democracy for moslem women” as a coverup, while genociding locals in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan as a mode of acquiring additional oil-producing properties. Handing out 400,000,000 US dollars bribing “protesters” against the current leader of Iran, without US Congress approval is treason, and the US leaders responsible for it deserve due punishment.  The internal “family feud between Jacob and Esau” will continue, regardless of how any millions of “moslem types” are murdered by the NAZI/zionist/illuminati leadership of the USA.  American soldier deaths are not important, per Mr. D. Rumsfeld.  However, profit from aspartame, tamiflu and kick-backs from the current, debilitating “flu shot” are important.

Neither Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan nor Pakistan have attacked the USofA, nor plan to.  The only alleged “nation” that has attacked the USofA, is the israeli zionist leadership.  The israeli folk had very little to do with the debacle !!!
http://www.gtr5.com/
These social maladaptives are genociding their own folk, in addition to Palestineans.

Although Osama bin Laden died seven years ago, his progeny continue to do illegal weapons and drug business with the Scherff/Bush family, from Doerlitsch, SE of Leipzig. The NAZI/OSS/CIA association did a good job with and after “Operation Paper-Clip”.  However, some German families have always known the true identity of the 41st US president “imposter.”  Not all these folk have died, and in spite of widesspread document “removal and alteration,” and the generation of hundreds of fraudulent “family histories,”  accurate info has been passed along to offspring.  Perhaps “the Shadow” does not know, but the hundreds of offspring of the original parentage will continue to know.  At some time, some of them will speak out.  Some of them are not “NAZI suckups.”

Applying Nicola Tesla discoveries to earth-surface propulsion systems, instead of cooking the ionosphere and trying to copy UFO propulsion systems, would negate the need for NAZI-zionist oil for internal combustion engines. The increasing application of HHO-generating systems to autos is steadily removing the need, which frightens the s—t out of the corporate oil thieves.  They are trying to accelerate their evil genocide programs against the American populace, and which now also includes the folk of Germany, perhaps also the French.

The speech of German chancellor Angela Merkle before the US Congress would have been appropriate for the 1950s.  It is a bit outdated for 2009 and the future.  “To the victor go the spoils” still demonstrated by “good little monkey behavior.”  However, Mr. Obama was not even born, much less one of the “victors,” and his being an “American” continues to be in question.  Then again, the role of Mrs. A. Merkle as a STASSI subordinate, clouds her activity now, and will continue to do so, except among “Union leadership.”  Gorleben and between 2,000 & 200,000 years of exposure to radiation?  Is greater nonsense possible ???

Again, thanks Scott, for telling it like it is!

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By Trailing Begonia, November 6 at 10:13 am #

You mean to tell me that there are still women left in Afghanistan?  I thought they had all been ‘taken care of’ by the drones while attending weddings.

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By P. T., November 6 at 1:15 am #

Like American women, Afghan women are not a monolith.  They want different things.  However, one way to help them would be to quit dropping bombs on them.

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By SaveTheTenth, November 5 at 9:38 pm #

We can borrow more money from China (the absurdity should be shocking) to “free” the women of Afghanistan, and while we’re at it we can build schools, roads and libraries. All the while creating more enemies by bombing (from 10,000 feet by drones) wherever our army sees fit.

But where does it stop? Surely many women around the world need our help too. Since deficit spending is no concern to the Goodmans of the world, lets next “help” the women in Saudi Arabia. Looks like they need it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women’s_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia
(apostrophe in Women’s prevents direct link,click on the first link on the list for an eye opener)

Then, it’s on (with more borrowed money, hey Ellen won’t have to pay it back) to -oh I don’t know, maybe Kuwait. Once “we” free them, the next stop might be Bangladesh, or Pakistan (oops, we’re already going there!). Then we might turn our righteous eyes on South America.

http://www.globalissues.org/article/166/womens-rights

And even though we’re already bankrupt and our bridges are literally falling apart and our schools need more teachers etc etc, we can sure feel good about where we spent our grandchildrens money, can’t we Ellen.

Washington DC is a disease. Goodmans symptoms go unrecognized because it’s infected so many already.

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By elisalouisa, November 5 at 8:49 pm #

Ellen Goodman:We shouldn’t be surprised we have come to this pass. It
happened on our watch. We barely noticed when Karzai signed a law that
would have, among other things, allowed Shiite men to withhold food from
wives who refused them sex.
**********************************
This column sounds like mainstream news media not Truthdig.  Ms. Goodman
our country did notice, the United Nations Development Fund for Women also
warned that the law grants custody of children to father and grandfathers only.
Women cannot leave the house without their husbands’ permission, they can
only seek work, education or visit the doctor with their husbands’ permission.
You must want this war to continue and freedom for women is the reason you
give. That is not enough for our puppet leader Hamid Karzai is corrupt. Our
young man and women are dying, our country cannot afford healthcare, repair
the infrastructures or see to other needs of our people. I am really surprised at
you Ms. Goodman. Continuing this war is detrimental to our country.‘Hamid
Karzai has been accused of trying to win votes in Afghanistan’s presidential
election by backing a law the UN says legalises rape within marriage and bans
wives from stepping outside their homes without their husbands’ permission.
The Afghan president signed the law earlier this month, despite condemnation
by human rights activists and some MPs that it flouts the constitution’s equal
rights provisions.‘The final document has not been published, but the law is
believed to contain articles that rule women cannot leave the house without
their husbands’ permission, that they can only seek work, education or visit the
doctor with their husbands’ permission, and that they cannot refuse their
husband sex.
A briefing document prepared by the United Nations Development Fund for
Women also warned that the law grants custody of children to fathers and
grandfathers only.
Senator Humaira Namati, a member of the upper house of the Afghan
parliament, said the law was “worse than during the Taliban”. “Anyone who
spoke out was accused of being against Islam,” she said.’
This law went into effect August 14, 2009.
There must be another reason you are pushing for this war. You are a seasoned journalist, backing the war is not something you would casually do. Your doing so ups the odds of an escalated war in Afghanistan

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By tropicgirl, November 5 at 5:42 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

This pathetic tripe is the latest “roll out” in the defense of this ridiculous war,
spewed by the likes of Diane Feinstein and other warmongers.

If you really cared about Afghani women, then you would take a stand AGAINST
Obama’s continuation of blowing up their fathers, their sons, their husbands,
their babies, and them. He renditions the innocent, and starves them
anonymously through sanctions which sicken and weaken their families. He
doesn’t care if the anonymous drone bombs miss their “targets” which are
questionable at best. He blows up weddings for gods sake.

So don’t talk to me about caring about Afghani women. This is the new Army
propaganda that we financed earlier this year. Another use and abuse of women
by the sickos that brought us endless war. They could care less about Afghani
women. Why are you buying this?

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By Jolimont, November 5 at 1:13 pm #

The women of Aghanistan need to fight that battle
themselves. They need to raise sons who don’t turn
around and abuse them as soon as they turn 12. They
need to stop doing genital mutilation to their own
daughters. They need to get the hell out of there if
they have any chance. I wish someone could help them,
but the repression is too thick over there, even well-
intentioned people can’t deal with it.

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By johannes, November 5 at 12:03 pm #

to Montanawildhack,

Maby you have forgothen the scéne of the Afgane woman in here seclusion Burka, isolated from the world without love and shared pain who has been liquidated bij a shot in the head, in an big stadium without public.

Well I am old but if necesair I fight this bastarts, just for the Afgane woman and children.

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By montanawildhack, November 5 at 7:46 am #

What is happening to the women of Afghanistan is none of our business—-now or EVER… Whenever the United States feels it needs to defend a position that is Evil they bring up how we are helping the women or children…Bullshit… Get the hell out… It’s none of our business!!!  Oh, and while we’re on the subject of women’s rights how bout the fact that the women of America are forced to wear high heels…. Isn’t that torture??... Personally I’d rather wear a burqa…  Maybe the Russians should start dropping cluster bombs on us and bomb wedding parties to help liberate our women from high heels…. 

Hey, Ellen Goodman!!! Put on some make up, get a boob job, show some cleavage, put on some high heels and maybe I’ll start taking you seriously… Until then,,  “Shut the hell up!”..............

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