U.S. is doing no good in Afghanistan-"Mothers Ready To Sell Children-Because They Cannot Feed Them"

[kpete]

Opinion: U.S. is doing no good in Afghanistan

By Malalai Joya

Special to the Mercury News
Posted: 11/10/2009 08:00:00 PM PST

As an Afghan woman who was elected to Parliament, I am in the United States to ask President Barack Obama to immediately end the occupation of my country.

.........................

In 2001, the U.S. helped return to power the worst misogynist criminals, such as the Northern Alliance warlords and druglords. These men ought to be considered a photocopy of the Taliban. The only difference is that the Northern Alliance warlords wear suits and ties and cover their faces with the mask of democracy while they occupy government positions. But they are responsible for much of the disaster today in Afghanistan, thanks to the U.S. support they enjoy.

................

Over the past eight years the U.S. has helped turn my country into the drug capital of the world through its support of drug lords. Today, 93 percent of all opium in the world is produced in Afghanistan. Many members of Parliament and high ranking officials openly benefit from the drug trade. President Karzai's own brother is a well known drug trafficker.

Meanwhile, ordinary Afghans are living in destitution. The latest United Nations Human Development Index ranked Afghanistan 181 out of 182 countries. Eighteen million Afghans live on less than $2 a day. Mothers in many parts of Afghanistan are ready to sell their children because they cannot feed them.

more:
http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_13755903?nclick_check=1&forced=true

[stray cat]

1. Wasn't that the case for years before we arrived as well?

[tekisui]

3. Adding bombings, raids, IEDs and insurgent wars make it better?

Weak argument stray cat.

[Mari333]

2. knr

[tekisui]

4. knr!~

[femrap]

5. Maybe we would get further if we

armed the women and mothers. They should be fairly pissed by now.

I send these women spiritual strength daily. They are the only ones to break their chains. May the men in their world see their own faults.

I fucking hate war...modern war just kills the innocent.

[Wilms]

6. Have a listen to Hillary (it takes a village) Clinton

"I have made it clear that we're not going to be providing any civilian aid to Afghanistan unless we have a certification that if it goes into the Afghan government in any form, that we're going to have ministries that we can hold accountable," Clinton said.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4147872



Reminds me of Madeleine Albright's position on a 1/2 million dead Iraqi children.

[mdmc]

7. lets feed those kids

[2tr4nqued]

8. Most Americans just do not care

if the US military smashes, starves, and sickens thousands of innocent people. When one American goes missing, it's on the news for days. But when thousands of Afghans and Iraqis are murdered, it is given the attention usually given to animal deaths.

I can't believe we have not yet been successful at getting our government to stop the wars. It looks like we are actually about to send MORE troops to Afghanistan. That is unacceptable.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/shut-up-and-bring-them-home-if-you-want-our-vote