Code Pink's more nuanced Afghanistan policy

[ensho]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=49766&tsp=1#ixzz0UD4QaCN2


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But while she was there with a Code Pink entourage Sept. 27 - Oct. 6, native Afghans told them that they don't want the U.S. to pull out immediately. Women, especially, fear that would hasten a return of the Taliban.

"Women want to be involved in the peace talks," she said. "Any talks with the Taliban without women would be disastrous because they would just compromise women's rights further."

While Afghans told Benjamin that they don't want U.S. forces in the city centers, "they want them in their bases, as sort of a deterrent" to further attacks or guarding the Pakistan border.

"Yes, it's time for a new strategy, but they didn't think that more troops was the answer," she said. "When they see U.S. troops, they are afraid of the guns and the troops and they feel that the troops are magnets for more attacks."

While Benjamin's core "Bring the troops home" mantra hasn't changed, it has become more complicated.

"What I was left feeling is that I don't know what would be a realistic timeline without first coming up with the exit plan," she said. Before she went there, "I felt that troops should start coming home now."

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"Women want to be involved in the peace talks,"

that's the key - the women must be there at the peace talks

[sandnsea]

1. Many of those women want the troops to stay

"That position doesn’t represent all Afghan women however, a point that was made clear to Ms. Benjamin by Masooda Jalal, former Afghan minister of women and the only woman to run for President in 2004.� She has been advocating for Afghan women since 2001 when she was one of the few at the Loya Jirga, but still shut out, “we were in the big tent during the Loya Jirga, but most of the deals where made in the small tents, behind the curtains, where women where not allowed to go.”

At recent gatherings sponsored by Code Pink in Afghanistan, Ms. Jalal told Ms. Benjamin that troops and development funds are both needed for reconstruction.� “It is good for Afghanistan to have more troops - more troops committed with the aim of building peace and against war, terrorism, and security - along with other resources,” she answered. “Coming together they will help with better reconstruction.”

http://obama-mamas.com/blog/?p=437