Sunday, May 12, 2002

Evil American bringing war to peaceful Afghanistan which has resulted in terrible occurences such as:

Naqeeb and Shafiqa Moaber, another director of AWVC, had to take their training underground several times. Just four months before the collapse of the Taliban regime, both Naqeeb and Shafiqa fled to Pakistan for fear of getting caught and executed. When the Afghan Interim Administration (AIA) was in place, they returned and resumed their activities. They now have some 800 students at their training centre in Kabul and another 500 in Logar, between the ages of 10 and 45. Most of their funding comes from the British Government. The AWVC offers many courses including embroidery, carpet weaving, English and German.

According to Sally Austin, CARE's assistant country director for Afghanistan, CARE offers, among others, emergency response to assist communities affected by man-made and natural disasters, providing clean water and health education, assistance to widows and education for girls. They run several schools for girls in and outside Kabul.

Not to say there is not a tough battle ahead for their leaders:

"But anyone who hopes that the Lorga Jirga will create a Switzerland better go somewhere else. This is a long process. The Taliban were a low class who got to the top of the pyramid. They are no longer there and the pyramid has to regain its balance." Asked whether he was optimistic of the outcome, Brahimi says: "Well, yes. Otherwise I wouldn't be here."

As long as we and Afghanistan's otehr friends can keep them from falling into civil war again, I think they may have a chance. Once they have a taste of what can be and everyone makes an effort to help them on the path, the people should be able to look forward to self-determination and some degree of prosperity. Which are conditions that are conducive to stability.

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