Afghan Women Worse off Since Taliban Removed from Power

[tekisui]

Source: Opposing Views

From Brave New Films:

Eight years have passed since Laura Bush declared that “because of our recent military gains, women are no longer imprisoned in their homes” in Afghanistan. For eight years, that claim has been a lie.

The fact is that life for women in Afghanistan has gotten worse since the Taliban were removed from power. Once they chafed under the slavish conditions the Taliban imposed on their daily lives. Today they suffer under the exact same conditions, this time under the rule of the regime of warlords put in place by the U.S.-led coalition. And in addition to this oppression, women in Afghanistan are forced to cope with war.

Some well-meaning Westerners believe that the U.S. military occupation of Afghanistan benefits Afghan women. But the truth is that American military escalation will not liberate the women of Afghanistan. Instead, it will bring only more war – the hardships of which are always suffered disproportionately by women. With the risk of death outside their doorsteps, Afghan women are confined to their homes to an even greater extent than under the Taliban. More and more women are being forced by war into prostitution, often for a clientele of foreign troops. Self-immolation among Afghan women today is at an all-time high. This war is doing more to destroy women’s lives than the Taliban ever was able to.

Full Video Segment at Link: http://www.opposingviews.com/articles/opinion-afghan-women-worse-off-since-taliban-removed-from-power-r-1247077797

[tekisui]

1. This is important, because after the revenge argument, the treatment

of women in Afghanistan is a very common argument for our war.

[Echo In Light]

2. K&R

[RainDog]

3. we should just airlift women and children out of that shit hole

and the the stupid taliban and war lords kill each other.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Ah, yes, bombing for peace...

followed by kidnapping for rights.

[RainDog]

5. an airlift isn't kidnapping, but don't let this fact stop you from more bullshit

the NYTimes reported this week that younger people in Afghanistan are paying to be smuggled out of the country and into western europe.

if a UN force went in to allow people to leave, they probably couldn't supply planes fast enough.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. Some are.

Most Afghani women would rather the U.S. just leave.

[RainDog]

7. it's good to know you know the opinion of all Afghani women

because, you know, it would be a shame if you were pulling shit out of your ass to cover for your earlier bullshit remark.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. I know the polls of the opinions of Afghani women.

Rather than just assuming I know what's best for them.

[ieoeja]

9. "Afghan" women. Afghani is their currency.

Call them Afghani women is like calling women here Dollar women.

Just an FYI.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. Ahem.

Af·ghan·i (āf-gān'ē, -gä'nē)
adj. Of or relating to Afghanistan

[JVS]

14. How about we just get the fuck out and let them work on their own problems

[RainDog]

18. that's fine with me, actually. my initial remark was frustration and sympathy

for the plight of women, especially, in this hell hole.

women want us to leave, as in the post below, and, as I said, I'm all for that but since they do not have any power, as far as I know do not have any great caches of arms to fight the war lords or the taliban, I guess I can, in good conscience, say that if they want to be left to their fates, then so be it.

personally, if someone offered to air lift me out of the U.S. to a western democracy in Europe where I could work and have a life there, I'd choose that, but that's just me.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. We're there "liberating" them..just like the Greeks, Romans, Brits, and Russians before us. K&R

[timeforpeace]

13. Gut reaction, it's counterintuitive b.s. But if it gets us out of Afghanistan, roll with it.

[Flaneur]

12. Here's what one progressive Afghan women's group has to say:

The Revolutionary Association of Afghan Women puts it like this: “Neither the occupiers! Nor the bestial Taliban and the criminal Northern Alliance; long live a free and democratic Afghanistan!”


http://www.rawa.org/rawa/2009/05/07/lets-rise-against-the-war-crimes-of-us-and-its-fundamentalist-lackeys.html

Let’s rise against the war crimes of US and its fundamentalist lackeys!
RAWA Statement on Massacre of over 150 civilians in Bala Baluk of Farah Province by the U.S.


(Photos of Bala Baluk Massacre) (Report and Video Clip)



As the US occupiers continue killing our innocent and sorrowed people without regret, this time they committed yet another horrible crime in Bala Baluk village of Farah Province. On 5th May 2009, the US airstrikes targeted people’s homes, killing more than 150, mostly women and children. This is another war crime but Pentagon shamelessly includes Taliban as the perpetrators too and announces the civilian deaths being only 12!

The so-called ‘new’ strategy of Obama’s administration and the surge of troops in Afghanistan have already dragged our ill-fated people in the danger zone and his 100-day old government proved itself as much more war-mongering than Bush and his only gifts to our people is hiking killings and ever-horrifying oppression. This administration is bombarding our country and tearing our women and children into pieces and from the other side, is lending a friendly hand towards the terrorist Gulbuddinis and Taliban -- the dirty, bloody enemies of our people-- and holding secret negotiations and talks with such brutal groups.

While our grieved people are burying the torn bodies of their loved ones in mass graves; the traitor lackey Said Tayeb Jawad, in his comfort in the USA, tries to dim the war crimes of his masters and about the killings of civilians, shamelessly salts people’s wounds saying, “this is a price we have to pay if we want security and stability in Afghanistan, the region and the world.”!

If his or other ignoble spies like him would lose their children and dear ones like the people of Bala Baluk, would they still become so stone-hearted and remain silent in the face of US/NATO war crimes in Afghanistan?

The only way our people can escape the occupant forces and their obedient servants is to rise against them under the slogans of: “Neither the occupiers! Nor the bestial Taliban and the criminal Northern Alliance; long live a free and democratic Afghanistan!”

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. Afghan women are reduced to pawns in the game. Expendable pawns.

On the one hand they are being "protected" by the Taliban by saving them from the evils of modernity. On the other, they are being "protected" by the USA from the evil Taliban.

“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy.” - Gandhi

[Mari333]

15. save this article to show anyone who uses that tired old propaganda about

us liberating the women .

get the hell out of afghanistan, obama.

[libodem]

17. What Laura Bush's pet project?

EPIC FAIL.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

19. Afghan women have been worse off since 1979, when the CIA started supporting

the reactionary Islamicists who objected to the new Marxist government's gender equality initiatives. That's right, the CIA was supporting them BEFORE the Soviets came in.

The mujahedin were no "freedom fighters." They didn't know Communism from consumerism. All they knew was that no wife or daughter of theirs was going to go around with her face uncovered or learn to read and write!

[Mudoria]

20. Yes indeed, they were much better off under the Taliban...

[tekisui]

21. That image plus war is what they are faced with now.

The point is, US troops creating a war zone haven't improved women's standard of living. That excuse for the continued occupation is not valid.

ETA: Taliban is not the be all end all problem. They are one of many factions. And, they are just the most famous. Not necessarily worse or better than others.