Age of Enlightenment still a few months away in Afghanistan
James Lileks ·
December 2, 2011 at 5:42am
. . . but give them time. Six, seven more centuries. BBC says:
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has pardoned a rape victim who was jailed for adultery, after she apparently agreed to marry her attacker. A government statement said she agreed to the marriage, although her lawyer said she did not wish to marry him.
The woman, named as Gulnaz, gave birth in prison to a daughter who has been kept in jail with her.
At least she had a lawyer. The Taliban wouldn't give her a lawyer. So don't tell me there's no progress in the region.
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Aug '10
Re: Age of Enlightenment still a few months away in Afghanistan
http://ricochet.com/member-feed/More-Heartwarming-News-from-Afghanistan
Has Hamid Karzai been reading Ricochet?
Edited on December 2, 2011 at 6:02amJun '10
Re: Age of Enlightenment still a few months away in Afghanistan
Her shopping bag had celery in it, so they had some mercy on her. (James will get that.)
Sep '10
Re: Age of Enlightenment still a few months away in Afghanistan
No, that was the prosecution's main point! Everyone knows that if a woman has celery in her shopping bag, her underwear will fall to the ground.
Jan '11
Re: Age of Enlightenment still a few months away in Afghanistan
At least Gulnaz came to her senses and did the right thing by making an honest man out of her rapist.
Oct '11
Re: Age of Enlightenment still a few months away in Afghanistan
We have to leave Afghanistan. Clearly these people are insane.
Oct '10
Re: Age of Enlightenment still a few months away in Afghanistan
There have been sound reasons to pursue and eliminate those truly dangeous folks that scurry about and are difficult to locate and remove in the region on one hand.
Anyone with two beans of historical awareness would know that any effort to convert the populace to Western thinking would not even start the process.
As well intendeded as the efforts may be, it simply reveals the hubris of the current think.
In short, Afganistan is what it is and will suffer little when it comes to outside interference. Blunt, but true.
This is no win situation.
Re: Age of Enlightenment still a few months away in Afghanistan
This is what we are fighting for? I'm dusgusted by this.
She should kill the guy when she gets out. The jail they will keep her in can't be any worse than the jail that guy will turn her life into.
Nov '11
Re: Age of Enlightenment still a few months away in Afghanistan
Why is it we're there again?
Feb '11
Re: Age of Enlightenment still a few months away in Afghanistan
Bring the troops home form Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea, and Germany and put them on the Mexican border.
May '10
Re: Age of Enlightenment still a few months away in Afghanistan
The link below shows the Afghani victims of an acid attack on their family after refusing to marry their daughter to a local Afghan warlord. The vicitms include 13, and 14 yo girls, sister to the daughter in question.
How do we expect to cultivate democracy and equality through our troops presence there.
(Graphic pictures in link to article)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2068977/Afghan-gunmen-pour-acid-3-sisters-parents-refusal-marry-ageing-warlord.html
Edited on December 2, 2011 at 5:00pmApr '11
Re: Age of Enlightenment still a few months away in Afghanistan
James’ comment that they have six or seven centuries to go is unfair to late medieval Europe or for that matter Rome. Rape in Europe was a crime. Of course, for that matter, rape was a crime during the Roman Empire, punishable by death. We talk of Islamic law in these parts of the world as primitive, or medieval, when in fact what they are is evil.
May '10
Re: Age of Enlightenment still a few months away in Afghanistan
As I recall, Victor's argument for staying in Afghanistan months ago was basically that it's better to fight terrorists "over there" than at home. I've never been completely satisfied with that justification.
Our soldiers should not endure war in the midst of a sick society and be separated from their families merely to reduce the likelihood of attacks here which civilians can help to prevent through vigilance.
If we measured the risks/rewards numerically (civilian losses vs soldier losses), this war might seem worth it. But the value of life cannot be measured in numbers. It matters not just that we live but how we live. In this case, it seems better that we all share the threat of evil men.
Bring our boys (and girls) home.
Dec '10
Re: Age of Enlightenment still a few months away in Afghanistan
I'm waiting for Claire to weigh in here with news that her moderate Muslim friends are denouncing this sort of institutionalized violence against women.
It may be a long wait, as she's off at the zoo for a bit (in NYC, not Turkey).
Anyway, every time I read about something like this, my first impulse is to take Ripley's advice and "Nuke 'em from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.".
However, since nuclear warheads cannot as of yet discern innocent from a-hole, that's not a perfect solution.
I'm still not sure if such a fate it is more or less bad than condemning those same innocents to a life under barbarian rule though.
I hate it, but the fact is that we cannot save those people from themselves.
We should leave.
Then, when they come at us again (and they will eventually), we should rain all hell upon them from afar. Indiscriminately and in great numbers.
Perhaps after their next attack against us, people will begin to realize that we are in the midst of a war that only one side is openly fighting.
Edited on December 3, 2011 at 10:15am