A giant step backward

[Karen]

I would not say Afghanistan has been "neglected" - but that it was not properly attended to - our troops are not unlimited, nor are our resources, and choices were made where to send both, how many and how much ... it is a complex situation. Not neglected, but badly handled, in my opinion. You cannot send in one soldier - no matter how brave and stalwart and skilled - to do the job of a platoon.

[caseysmom]

If anyone wants to get po'd about afghanastan read "A thousand splendid suns"

[Catty1]

We've lost 116 people there...and troops are needed to even protect the humanitarian missions...

I hear the government is "reviewing" the laws. Sheesh, what's the point of getting rid of the Taliban if this crap is going to be law???

[Edwina's Secretary]

The women of Afghanistan have never been the focus of US action. Just not very strategic.

Before 9/11 - but after the US government armed the mullahs - there were people trying to raise awareness of the plight of these women. Jay Leno's wife has been at it a long time and my aunt was involved through her church. Mavis Leno has been very involved in an organization to help Afghanistan women since 1997.

http://www.feminist.org/afghan/aboutcampaign.asp

One in 6 Afghan women die in childbirth. This organization is working to train midwives to reduce those numbers as well as improve the lives of these women in other ways.