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Pakistani Taliban Shoots 14 Year Old Activist

Then I would suggest that we focus on here, and not overseas. We are wasting money and lives fighting battles for them, when he have our own crap to deal with.

I'm not certain that in this politically correct environment that much can be done. When political leadership refuses to even acknowledge terrorism when American lives are taken then it seems unlikely that there is the necessary will to deal with that crap you mention.
 
I'm not certain that in this politically correct environment that much can be done. When political leadership refuses to even acknowledge terrorism when American lives are taken then it seems unlikely that there is the necessary will to deal with that crap you mention.

Well, that pretty much bolsters my position that we shouldn't be over there either. If we are unwilling to deal with our domestic terrorist issues, why in the hell would we think we can be effective in the ME?
 
Well, that pretty much bolsters my position that we shouldn't be over there either. If we are unwilling to deal with our domestic terrorist issues, why in the hell would we think we can be effective in the ME?

I agree with you, Lizzie, in principle, but it seems to me that there isn't the will to fight overseas nor is there a sustained public consensus to fight the problems at home. The ACLU and other like-minded groups, including the media, would be doing whatever they can to prevent the American people from acting in their own best interests.
 
I agree with you, Lizzie, in principle, but it seems to me that there isn't the will to fight overseas nor is there a sustained public consensus to fight the problems at home. The ACLU and other like-minded groups, including the media, would be doing whatever they can to prevent the American people from acting in their own best interests.

Unfortunately, you are probably right about that. It will have to reach a near-critical level before anyone would do anything. So far, I haven't been hearing of anything that seems to inspire any real fear. I guess we'll just have a wait and see approach. It may not amount to anything, but if it does, in sufficient quantity, something/someone will be forced to resolve it, just due to public outcry if nothing else. I'm just hoping that we don't give up our freedoms, for the sake of it. That's my primary concern at this point in time.
 
Unfortunately, you are probably right about that. It will have to reach a near-critical level before anyone would do anything. So far, I haven't been hearing of anything that seems to inspire any real fear. I guess we'll just have a wait and see approach. It may not amount to anything, but if it does, in sufficient quantity, something/someone will be forced to resolve it, just due to public outcry if nothing else. I'm just hoping that we don't give up our freedoms, for the sake of it. That's my primary concern at this point in time.

It seems to me, and this is true in Europe as well, that the people will start reacting before the government does anything. Politicians are far removed from those whose lives are being changed and resentments will grow. Governments can deal with theories on how the governed should live, and have their ideas implemented on the unaware and unwilling, but eventually those people whose lives have been most effected will strike back.
 
I have a similar story from a buddy of mine who was in the 101st. He absolutely hates afghans. Specifically, actually. He also did a tour in Iraq, but had nothing too awfully negative to say about them...but he HATES afghans, for the exact reason you cited...a willful determination to remain ignorant. He hated talking to them, dealing with them, etc. Before he got wounded, he said if he had to do ONE MORE tour there, he was gonna quit.

But here is the problem with that attitude: that brave young girl who is trying to make the world a better place...she is an Afghan. From what I have read about her activism over the past few days she is easily a better person than the vast majority of Americans, including myself. And there are others like her. We shouldn't discount them.
 
But here is the problem with that attitude: that brave young girl who is trying to make the world a better place...she is an Afghan. From what I have read about her activism over the past few days she is easily a better person than the vast majority of Americans, including myself. And there are others like her. We shouldn't discount them.

Good point.

The conclusion isn't "The Afgans are a backward and horrible people", but the Taliban are made up of backward and horrible people. How many of our 14 year olds would stand up for education? How many of them even try the best they can to learn, let alone risk murder at the hands of thugs to make a stand for educating girls?
 
I am not personally willing to invest US tax dollars to fix problems which cannot be fixed by US tax dollars. It's not as if there is mass genocide happening over there, or as if something totally new and unexpected is going on, but that is not the case. We could stay there forever, and waste money and the lives of our own young men, for a bunch of people who don't even like us, and to me, that is insane. We aren't the appointed savior of the world, nor should we be. We can't even afford to take care of ourselves anymore, for God's sake.

As far as I'm concerned, people with your attitude are enablers of the Taliban and the backwards ass barbaric atrocities they commit. I refuse to accept the position of standing by while brave men and women like Malala Yousufzai languish under oppression and tyranny simply because they lack the means to free themselves from their bonds.

Don't tell me we have more pressing problems at home. The problems we face as Americans are not comparable to those faced by oppressed groups like women under the Taliban and other fundamentalist societies. I know that's not a popular position for Americans to hear, but it's true.

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Yes, it's graphic. I don't care. People need to see such photographs. There's a growing epidemic of young Afghan women trapped in a world of unimaginable abuse who attempt suicide by self immolation. Google it. I can't imagine what kind of person says they can't spare any taxpayer money to help individuals facing such a hopeless plight.
 
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I fail to see what this post has to do with anything remotely relevant to this particular thread.

Opposition to education grounded in misogyny seems alive and well in the US, much as it does in Afghanistan.
 
Opposition to education grounded in misogyny seems alive and well in the US, much as it does in Afghanistan.

Indeed, because we in the US have always forbidden female education and routinely lock heretic female students in the classroom and burn them alive. Your posts have nothing whatsoever to do with the topic of this thread.
 
As far as I'm concerned, people with your attitude are enablers of the Taliban and the backwards ass barbaric atrocities they commit. I refuse to accept the position of standing by while brave men and women like Malala Yousufzai languish under oppression and tyranny simply because they lack the means to free themselves from their bonds.

Don't tell me we have more pressing problems at home. The problems we face as Americans are not comparable to those faced by oppressed groups like women under the Taliban and other fundamentalist societies. I know that's not a popular position for Americans to hear, but it's true.

Picture edited

Yes, it's graphic. I don't care. People need to see such photographs. There's a growing epidemic of young Afghan women trapped in a world of unimaginable abuse who attempt suicide by self immolation. Google it. I can't imagine what kind of person says they can't spare any taxpayer money to help individuals facing such a hopeless plight.

Spare me the drama. This **** has been happening around the world for thousands of years. Yes, it's horrific. Yes, it's ugly. The problem is that we can't fix it, no matter how much we hate it, or how much money we throw at it. One of the reasons for the rise in militant Islamism is because of our holier-than-thous attitude that our way is the only way, and we know better than they, about what is best for them. Prior to our getting intrenched in ME affairs, and trying to wield influence by buying them off, there were more signs of progress in their cultures, than we have seen since the 70's, at which time they appear to have started moving in a reverse direction.
 
Horrible, horrible people. When I was there they burned down a local girls' school that we helped build. They are intent to stay in the middle ages, and there they will stay.

1.4 million Iraqi civilians slaughtered since the US illegal invasion in 2003

Youre right - horrible, horrible people

something must be done about it
 
1.4 million Iraqi civilians slaughtered since the US illegal invasion in 2003

Youre right - horrible, horrible people

something must be done about it
I'm of the long held belief that we should've never been there in the f***ing first place.

Way to stand up for child murderers, chief.
 
I don't expect anything of them at all. I just believe they should be taking care of their own issues, and we should mind our own business. It's a cold cruel world out there, and the only thing that can change people, are the people themselves. Their culture is not ready for change on a grand scale, or they would already be making the transition.

I agree. We need to mind our own business. Their way of life is not ours and nothing we do, give, or force upon them will change their way of life until they as a people are willing to rise up and make those changes themselves.
 
I agree. We need to mind our own business. Their way of life is not ours and nothing we do, give, or force upon them will change their way of life until they as a people are willing to rise up and make those changes themselves.

Easier said than done. We tried that against the Nazis, Fascists and Communists and finally there had to be a confrontation or millions more would have died.
 
Easier said than done. We tried that against the Nazis, Fascists and Communists and finally there had to be a confrontation or millions more would have died.

Fighting these ignorant religious nut cases on their home turf in the mountains in revenge for 9/11 can not be compared to fighting the nazis in WWII for the fate of the world.

We're not fighting over millions of lives, we're fighting over pride, and we're wasting American soldiers and substantial funds in the process.
 
Easier said than done. We tried that against the Nazis, Fascists and Communists and finally there had to be a confrontation or millions more would have died.

Didn't America only get involved after the attack on Pearl Harbor. So it was in defense and retaliation of an attack on American soil not because of the loss of life overseas at the hands of Nazis....correct?
 
The best solution to this problem is the Libertarian one (isn't it always?).

The Pakistani government should just withdraw all police, border patrol, and military forces from Swat and recede its border to exclude that territory. Then Swat becomes a separate country.

Once that's done, Pakistan should then fully legalize the private sale of guns to anyone, including automatic weapons.

Then anyone in the world can just go to Pakistan, buy as many guns as he/she wants and walk/drive into Swat (assuming the Taliban let them in, which shouldn't be hard considering they won't have enough men to guard their new border effectively).

Under the new system, it would be legal for Taliban to also purchase guns in Pakistan and take it back with them, depending on whether the gun store owners choose to sell to them. Ya think they will?

If the Taliban want sovereignty, they must accept all that comes with it :)
 


Excellent. The Taliban have gone too far this time, and incurred the wrath of at lest the Pakistanis. Maybe the Afgans will follow suit and start to root this evil from their society as well.

But, throwing acid in the faces of little girls who dared to go to school didn't seem to be enough, nor was burning donated children's coats in the face of an Afgan winter. Maybe the third time will be the charm.
 
Why do people bother starting threads like this? Everyone knows the Taliban murders women, children and men for wrong thinking or being the wrong gender or saying the wrong thing or not saying the right thing - and 1000 other reasons given for murder.
 
Why do people bother starting threads like this? Everyone knows the Taliban murders women, children and men for wrong thinking or being the wrong gender or saying the wrong thing or not saying the right thing - and 1000 other reasons given for murder.

However, the Taliban is also good at humiliating Western militaries. They are tactically superior to any military force on the planet. Time for the rest of the world to wake up and formulate better strategies.
 
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