Women for Afghan Women

The story of Bibi Aisha is horrifying and worse to think it may not be that uncommon. I don't necessarily blame religion, politics, economics or any other manmade social construct but I do blame ignorance. Sorry I haven't been aware of this story and so many others. Such a touching story but still tears are inadequate, even a donation seems inadequate and my righteous indignation serves no purpose either.

This girl is not a victim but her circumstances are the result of a society that doesn't seem to appreciate the value of a human being beyond a few dollars. We all have to survive in this world and to do so means making tough decisions. Don't sell your daughters to the highest bidder. Children are not commodities.

The sight of Bibi Aisha may be shocking but maybe the jolt is needed for a trip back to reality.

Bibi Aisha arrived at our shelter on November 15, 2009. She was sold at the age of 10 by her father to a married man, a Talib. He kept her in the stable with the animals until she was 12 (when she got her first menstrual period). At the age of 12 he married her. From the day that she arrived in his house, she was beaten regularly by this man and his family. Sometimes she was beaten so badly that she couldn’t get up for days. Six months ago before she came to us, she was beaten so badly by her husband that she thought that she was going to die. She ran away and went to the neighbor’s house. The neighbor took to her to the police.


Read more about Bibi at www.womenforafghanwomen.org/front_lines.php

Drawing Lines

The American Roller Coaster by Scott Rutherford

Reuters: "Buoyant U.S.-Pakistani relations are being underpinned by converging interests over Afghanistan but strains could emerge if Pakistan's expectations for U.S. help are not met and it feels it is being used."

It is critical to defeat Taliban: Pervez Musharraf

Pervez Musharraf 

from: themoderatevoice.com

WASHINGTON: Pointing out that it was "critical" to defeat Taliban, former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf has sharply criticised US plans to begin troops pull-out from Afghanistan in a year's time."We are there because we understand how critical it is to the region and to the world," Musharraf, now on a lecture tour of US, told a gathering at the Portland University in Oregon last night.

While praising US president Barack Obama for sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, Musharraf said efforts should be to win the war against terror fully.

Opposing Obama's plan to begin withdrawing forces in July 2011, the former Pakistan ruler said the fight should go on until the Taliban is defeated.

He said Obama was too worried about public opinion. "Sometimes in the lives of leaders, you must do the unpopular as the real test of leadership lies there."

The former Pakistan Army chief said the recent wave of arrests of top Taliban commanders were a "positive sign", but did not mark a major blow to Taliban forces.

He said Taliban was not a monolith force as some people think and a person who is the second most important man of the group has not great impact on Taliban.

In the address, Musharraf claimed he would return to Pakistan if the people wanted him back and thought he could help the country.

Comment: That timeframe will be prime election campaign time for Obama, Mr Musharraf. Although you may be right about leaders sometimes having to make unpopular decisions, it would be political suicide for Obama to back down on troop withdrawals next year. The Taliban need to be defeated with internal forces, the external ones cannot stay there indefinitely. A deadline is required but most realize a deadline is not necessarily a fixed point in time. Possibly the deadline will be extended but for now the plan is to begin withdrawal of forces in July, 2011. Do you want to have future political dealings with a Palin administration?