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Ahmad Jamshid / AP
More than ten years after the beginning of the war, Afghanistan faces external pressure to reform as well as ongoing internal conflicts.
About 150 Afghan schoolgirls were poisoned on Tuesday after drinking contaminated water at a high school in the country's north, officials said, blaming it on conservative radicals opposed to female education.
Since the 2001 toppling of the Taliban, which banned education for women and girls, females have returned to schools, especially in Kabul.
But periodic attacks still occur against girls, teachers and their school buildings, usually in the more conservative south and east of the country, from where the Taliban insurgency draws most support.
"We are 100 percent sure that the water they drunk inside their classes was poisoned. This is either the work of those who are against girls' education or irresponsible armed individuals," said Jan Mohammad Nabizada, a spokesman for education department in northern Takhar province.
Some of the 150 girls, who suffered from headaches and vomiting, were in critical condition, while others were able to go home after treatment in hospital, the officials said.
They said they knew the water had been poisoned because a larger tank used to fill the affected water jugs was not contaminated.
"This is not a natural illness. It's an intentional act to poison schoolgirls," said Haffizullah Safi, head of Takhar's public health department.
None of the officials blamed any particular group for the attack, fearing retribution from anyone named.
The Afghan government said last year that the Taliban, which has been trying to adopt a more moderate face to advance exploratory peace talks, had dropped its opposition to female education.
But the insurgency has never stated that explicitly and in the past acid has been thrown in the faces of women and girls by hardline Islamists while walking to school.
Education for women was outlawed by the Taliban government from 1996-2001 as un-Islamic.
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Another example of the cruel hate filled culture of islam! What kind of animals are these who poison girls for going to school? What total scum! And, every single "moderate and peace loving muslim" in the US and Europe is equally guilty for allowing this hideous activity. Every American and European should picket every mosque with this story, and accost every single muslim everywhere for allowing something like this to happen. Every one of them is equally guilty!
it's a sick culture where men attack schoolgirls and think they're still men. here's where the real war on women is being fought, courtesy of the religion of intolerance.
I don't know why they attacked the school girls like that, since school girls are hot.
Some guy...you're as stupid and sick as the @!$%#s who did this in the name of Allah. If this is the norm for Muslims, then they are all a bunch of @!$%#s.
Some Guy, really! How old are you? Please change your name to Some Boy.
These young women risk everything they have including their lives to attend classes and believe it or not, this will not stop them from getting an education. This are very special children and should be respected.
Only cowards and men of extreme low character attack innocent children and yet make a big scandal when their Koran is burnt or any other minor bull @!$%#te. Go figure! Men in this country are not men but mentally unstable illiterate bastards. I can't stand some of these people and get so sick and tired of hearing about the monstrosities they create and manufacture. Scum of the earth. How they can pretend and carry themselves as if are extremely religous people is beyond me.
Could you cite a source stating that that is the norm?
Allowing? How are they supposed to stop it? What is picketing a mosque going to accomplish except alienate the Muslims going there who had nothing to do with it? The Taliban or whoever did this aren't going to care over in Afghanistan.
I hear this Kony fellow in Uganda calls himself a Christian, yet abducts kids to serve in his army and razes villages that don't cooperate with him. Shouldn't you be stopping him?
That soldier, who targeted children and women, is no better, no worst. Both should just be taken out and shot, IMHO.
YOU are allowing it just as much as they are, bro.
Inquisition anyone?
you realize islam has sects and there are many of them and each sect practices differently? one sect can't and won't tell the other anything because they do things differently.
@mePhDwee - you're no better than they are to turn a blind eye because a soldier killed innocent people. You think christians are any more "peaceful"? Hell look at the last christian president, he commited genocide on the Iraqi people and people like you wonder why we have a terrorist problem. Maybe you should educate yourself on the real history of the United States, even mindless Ronnie Regean and his broken promises to Bin Laden, the Iran Contra affairs and many other atrocities that led us to where we are today.
@mePhDwee: quit making this political you douche. I think we can all agree, republicans and democrats, that islame is a sick, evil religion. This is the only issue I've seen us all united upon.
mysterious stranger, I'm sorry. We do not agree on that issue.
Its a pity to see people blame the whole Muslim culture on the acts of few. Yes in fact this is wrong and the way they act makes me sick to even say that there Muslims. But like all other religions they each have a dark side to them. Look at Christianity in the past, killing and forcing people to change religions. But i dont yell any hatred to the religion just the people who approve of this. I'm a Muslim who inst ashamed to say that even in this religion we have many hypocrites and evil people. But you have to realize this is a country that still dwells in the past unlike the rest of the world. It has a corrupt and evil way of acting allowing such actions to happen to its people but its nothing we can do. Rather than using this to blast hated onto a whole community why dont you actually do something to help the people who are being hurt. The Muslim girls, whose religious people you hate so much, become targets from there own people. America has murders that many times comes from ones own selfish reasons. Just like all the religions, Islam has different branches that are different or nearly the same as the original. Unfortunately what you see is a branch of Islam that focuses on male superiority, which in my eyes is wrong. You cant keep blaming the community just because the acts of few. Christianity has had preachers who harassed little boys but i put the blame on them not the community. America used to enslave black people and kill them if they saw they got an education. Germany killed Jews out of disgust and hatred. I wish it was true but America isn't a free and peaceful country. Possibly one of the worst, but I still call it my home and I love this country. Man its Great! Just like everywhere else there are good and bad people. The worlds messed up man, your not helping if your just spreading hated. You gotta spread some love, no homo lol.
How many of you don't think that Afghanistan won't revert right back to where it was in 2001, 1 day after US troops leave? Karsai will never have a chance to finish his term after the US leaves.
That's the only plus because Karsai does't deserve to be leader of anything bigger than a boy scout meeting
You'd put him in charge of boy scouts? Poor kids....
I agree with Logic4U, Karsai is corrupt and deserves what he gets when we leave. I give him 3 months after we leave.
Adam-2011718 is right. The Russians gave up (and they are hardcore) after 10 years of fighting those tribesmen on their own ground. Tell me again, why are we expending our military and what financial resources we have left, on a 10th century country that will not change? I feel sorry for the women, but.....................
Hey, remember how part of the reason the Soviet Union collapsed was because of that big sucking money funnel called Afghanistan? Poor suckers didn't know enough to just keep all the money off the books like we did for 8 years!
I wouldn't put KarZai in charge of Boy Scout meeting. By the time the meeting was over, the money being saved to pay for a trip to the next jamboree would be stolen and the air would be let out of the troop's tires.
"Hey, remember how part of the reason the Soviet Union collapsed was because of that big sucking money funnel called Afghanistan? Poor suckers didn't know enough to just keep all the money off the books like we did for 8 years."
Hahaha, those on the left are so used to repeating that same lame, dishonest talking point that they have now started claiming that we went into Afghanistan on Day 1 of the Bush administration.
These terrorists and radicals don't even know what they are fighting for anymore. Women have the right to an education and it is not written anywhere in the Qu'uran that they cannot. This is just another plot to get more uneducated recruits and dim-wits to do their bidding for them. Once they have no education, they can easily manipulate people like Mohammed Merrah for example to kill innoccent people without questioning their orders. These people are cruel and the lowest form of bottom feeders I have ever seen! And last but certainly not least, these people are definitely not Muslims, because in the opening chapter of the Qu'uran, it states VERY CLEARLY "Learn! In the of your God!". The Muslim Community is hated because there is a vast majority of people who did not receive education during the colonial period, which led to generations upon generations of kids getting bad parenting and radical teachings. A commonly used phrase used to describe Muslims is "7th Century radical nuts" because these people still adhere to laws that were made in the Arab world during that time, but not the relatively new laws proposed by the Qu'uran that were more liberating to all peoples.
Algerien, very well said.
These people are the lowest form of scum.
Don't you know?Us white male heterosexual christian taxpaying husbands and fathers are the lowest form of scum.
Pained1 - you are so right.
Yep, pained, manhattanron, and myself are so oppressed. And being single in a high bracket, I pay a bigger percentage than you, but you're the ones crying? My heart bleeds for you!
MacDeezy, they didn't say they were broke or oppressed just that they felt they were looked down upon for being white, straight and male. I do find it odd that with the exception of Christians, whites are the only people we Americans hold responsible for things their ancestors did and males do get a double dose because women can at least claim sexism.
We live in a culture that idolizes the victim and straight white males are the only ones that are not allowed to claim some type of victim status. I am not saying whites do not get better treatment at times by other whites just as any other culture looks out for their own. However, you have to admit holding anyone responsible for something that happened before they were even born is idiotic. How can anyone be good enough to make up for their ancestor's errors and crimes? But even that is not enough we also have people who blame any random white man for the act of any random white man centuries ago without their even being related. That means they didn't benefit from the actions they are being blamed for. How is that right or proper? It is illogical in a culture that claims to be working towards multiculturalism. How many generations of white men down the road do we have to go before they are not held responsible for slavery? Or do we want to create a new pariah class?
Color me politically incorrect, I guess.
PJ: " straight white males are the only ones that are not allowed to claim some type of victim status."
Don't worry--I know PLENTY of "straight white males" who whine and play the victim. (you may want to check out your own mirror yourself...)
My question is WHY? Why do you want to be the victim instead of a strong, honorable, courageous, compassionate, good, gentleman? WHY?
ErinsFire42: You are so right!!! A BIG part of the problem in this country is the lazy white boy standing around with his hand out waiting for someone to slap that piece of American pie into their hand. They don't want to do HARD work, yet they don't want to apply their brain power academically, i.e. get a college degree. They fully expect a comfy, cozy little blue collar job where they can make $75,000 a year plus benes, but not work TOO hard, get to boss others around and they certainly don't want to have to THINK. They sit around, btchin at their women (if they are lucky enough to get one to STAY) because this or that isn't done to their specification, yet won't get off their asses to do it themselves. Instead they feel ENTITLED, have NO problem snapping their fingers at you to wait on them and then tell you YOU'RE the lucky one for the "honor" of being with them. They would rather be the victim because it is straight up easier and they don't have to think about it.
sounds like an excuse to me! haha
Lazy WHITE boy with their hand out?!
PJ - You make it sound like "victim status" is a good thing -- something that people seek out. Believe me, very few rational people want such a status. If they are claiming such a status, it's usually for a good reason. If married, white, Christian, American men with a good income feel they are being victimized in some way, I hope they will speak up. We will give them the "victim status" they seek.
But be warned - "victim status" comes with some unwanted side effects, like being taunted by people on the internet, branded as whiners, accused of some reverse "ism," called a special interest group, etc. And the bonuses of "victim status"? No one has figured that out yet. There's a rumor going around that they all get big fat checks and special treatment or something, but evidence is slim on that score.
@Pained - No one thinks "white male heterosexual christian taxpaying husbands and fathers are the lowest form of scum." I think you may be picking up on something that simply isn't out there.
um, yeah..... - So, blue collar workers are overpaid and underworked? Good luck with the 2012 election...
Oh Erin, I hate to spoil your comeback but my mirror tells me I am racially mixed and female. Oops!
Funny thing about you extreme liberal types you do love to stereotype.
Two wrongs do not make a right. It is that simple. You can't fix what President Jackson did to my ancestors by telling some little white boy he has to carry the weight of the whole race's history. If you look hard enough ALL races have done evil. Look at this article and see my point illustrated in bold colors.
What it comes down to..is the Muslim religion is outta step with Modern Culture, they are scared of progress and are losing the battle. Soon Society will get them to let there iron grasp of a young generations of Muslims fall to the side. The game will be over..no more will a Muslim man have 5 hoes and his wife cant even leave the house or talk to anyone...No more will killing girls and children be "just fine, pass'e, Allahs Will" but Our nation needs to learn that Shooting somone in the face because they dont like them also makes Americas Religion of christianity, Every god fairing person who thinks Tupac or Ted Nugent is awesome fall into the trap of thinking Violence has anything to do with Religion. We need to Catch up with modern times and also realize we need to step in to 2012.
Funny how a lot of you are whining that straight white males are the only ones held accountable. Aren't you playing victim here too? I find it funny how many turn a blind eye to their own hatred, whether its against people of color, sexual orientation, or religion. I admit, I have little tolerance for people who hold their religion higher than the actual morals it's supposed to represent, but I also find it disturbing that many of you will demonize a homosexual because they are different and then pretend you're the victim.
I agree there is no religion that women must remain stupid and ignorant, and ifthere was it is NOT a eligion but a cult.
I don't know why we're still there, for any reason. If it's to stop terrorism, we're peeing up a rope. Getting rid of terrorists, especially radical religious terrorists, you have to treat it like a roach infestation. You have to kill them all. Not practical, not possible, given the fact that the basic tenets aren't going anywhere, anytime soon, and the main "peaceful" contingent doesn't show any willingness to help the rest of the world.
Afghans apparently don't want anything much to change, so let's allow them to pursue their own path and bring everybody home. The minute we do, it will be back to the same old crap in that ancient graveyard of empires.
The military is probably trying to figure out how to get all the equipment out of landlocked Afghanistan with Pakistan having shut us out. The real problem comes when there are not enough coalition forces left to defend themselves. The Germans already had to give up one post, because there weren't enough troops left to defend it. I feel sorry for the last remaining troops who will have to make their way out of there.
I hate to break it to you, but the only way to rid ourselves of terrorism is not going to be by militiristic force, but by ridding ourselves of these ancient and archaic religions and the holy books that are nothing more than manuals for terrorism. No religion is guilt free from being terroristic, for each one has a history of bloody violence that has invoked this divide for mankind.
The fact that these people would poison their own women is in itself proof that anti-education is alive and well in Afghanistan and not only for women.
It's not doing all that well in this country either.
Seems to me I remember a quote by Rush Limbaugh regarding Sandra Fluke ...“What is it with all of these young, single, white women, overeducated — doesn’t mean intelligent.” What is it with conservatives? What constitutes an "overeducated" woman? Yep...keep'em bare foot and pregnant...that ought to win you an election. And I do believe the article referred to the perpetrators as "conservative radicals opposed to female education." Recognize yourself Rush?
I'm so lucky and grateful to be born in the US. I can't fathom the thought of how women are treated in these other countries.
These Islamic fundamentalists view women with such disdain, except when they want some. They treat their goats and horses better than they do their own wives. To them women are little more than chattel. Such hypocrisy!!!!! They will one day cause the world a great deal of suffering and blame everyone else for it.
They are causing the world a great deal of suffering right now. These monsters, allowed to multiply and infect like the plague, will only increase that suffering. And as for when they want some? Women are for making children, boys are for love. How sick is that?
islam is an evil, hate filled doctrine that is rooted in 7th century barbarism. all religions are stupid primitive superstitions. islam just happens to be the most disgusting and violently misogynist of the lot.
eventually there will be a showdown. arm yourself with knowledge and guns. anyone who studies the muslim texts will clearly see there is no accommodating islam with the modern world. they expect tolerance when in the minority, while their religious doctrine forbids any tolerance (only persecution) of non-mulsims when they are in control.
the knowledge you gain will make it easier to pull the trigger when the time comes. and it will come.
Armed...you are correct in a big part of this, islam is an evil hate filled culture and with the intent to kill or enslave all non believers. Yes, there will be a showdown; in some few years our world will see the greatest conflagration ever, vastly worse than our previous "world wars", and it will not end until the united countries join together and stamp out once and for all the hideous culture of islam.
Unfortunately, Christianity is the same way.
Well, Michael, we'll do some stomping there, next.
"....fearing retribution from anyone named."
Can you say "Taliban"? Of course you can. Won't hear these cretins calling for blood over this outrage.
Well, maybe we will. Like Karzai, they will blame us for not protecting them.
Islam is the greatest threat to the civilized people of the world. My vote is for the Americas, Australia, Europe, and Asia to stamp it out.
All of Islam is tarnished by the actions of these scum. Where are the protests from Islamic leaders and mullahs?
@Everywoman, be careful what you say. I asked the same thing of a, now former, Moslem friend of mine and I got a litany of insults, to include (you guessed it!) being called a racist.
Aaron, I take it he didn't think Islamic leaders and clerics should protest?
Personally I agree with Everywoman, I think they should protest, and vehemently, every chance they get, considering how much it tarnishes their reputation as muslims, and how they have to suffer the consequences of this reputation in their every day life. When you see a so-called christian like Anders Behring commit atrocities, christians protest, many post here and on other forums to let the world know they don't condone violence. But when crimes are committed by muslims, like after the Qur'an burning in Afghanistan, we rarely see muslims posting here (or other english news networks), condemning these crimes, instead we see excuses for the crimes, like hey it was their holy book they had the right to retaliate. Peaceful muslims need to be more vocal, they need to tell the world they don't condone terrorism, nor any other crimes committed supposedly in the name of Islam, including the abuse of girls and women.
Anna, that's exactly the point I made with my former friend. I asked him where was the condemnation of the beheadings and the slaughters carried out by Moslems, in the name of Islam, by moderate members of the community. He had no answer, just told me I was a racist and that I should have a terrible life (yes, he used those exact words, just because I asked the question).
Aaron, I am guessing he resorted to insults exactly because he had no answer, he probably felt you were putting their lack of reaction to the violence "in his face". But you were right Sir, and I'm sorry the so-called friend couldn't see that. I have friends who are muslims, and one of them in particular is a very dear friend, and he has been protesting every way he can, through videos, through blogs, through Twitter, etc, if he met your ex-friend he would surely tell him that you were right to ask.
Have a good day Aaron :)
Where is the "Stop Picking on Muslims, Everybody Does It" crowd?
These "men" are so cowardly that they can't face the idea that an educated woman might be smarter than they are. I don't care what religion they are. They are cowards.
the so called "men'' are afaird if there women become educated they will lead the country out of the stone ages.....what a backward country and religion..
Gee..... I wonder why these cavemen are so affraid of women learning that they're nothing but cavemen?
The culture in which girls come second (women too) - is Afghanian- you can travel the world around and there are multiple places existant where girls do not have the same priviledges as boys. The cuplrits in the poisoning episode are not the 'Taliban' they are the village elders- poisoning the girls because they go to school to learn is horrendous- evil to the core- the schoolgirls have also been subjected to acid throwing on their faces on their way to school; Afghan g'ment representatives,Loyal Jirga, Afghan members in international orgs have not addressed these problems at all in over 10 yrs when US/NATO/ISAF/UN aid orgs have been there. Afghan g'ment in order to be in UN signed on Human Rights-Equal Rights; they blatantly (Karzai) just asked a written guarantee of $2 bill in US aid-down from $4 bill. per annum. The girls have no security detail at all- and everyone is aware of the problem.
Has anyone questioned Santorum or the Tea Party about their whereabouts on the night in question? We know how they hate edgumication.
apparently education in their country doesn't work for girls or boys. they are all stupid there.
I wonder what will happen to the democratic reforms initiated by the U.S., NATO, and UN in Afghanistan after 2014.
The West has a notion of progress that includes equality for women, it will be telling if Afghan women can sieze the opportunity for an equal political and economic footing in Afghan society.
And our military is there why?? They have taught the Afgans what??
Our military is there to find Osama Bin Laden. I guess our military leaders haven't gotten the news that he's dead yet.
OK I'll try: How to build a corrupt government that can use US weapons to kill everyone?
they are havin' a party enjoying some afghan quality heroin and opium. looks like you missed the boat allison!
If the dems are looking for a "war on women " to rail against, they might want to consider this one.
...like the Afghan men are going to LISTEN to us when one of our political parties wishes to do away with all them "rights" we already have....
These people are barbarians! They have been this way for hundreds of years and guess what? One hundred years from now it will still be the backward, violent, sh*# hole that it is now. Not worth ONE American life
I wouldnt trust him around the boy scouts either. I wouldn't want to put those boys through hell.
Furthermore, how are the rest of the Afghanistans even Taliban Afghans able to poison their own people because of their beliefs that girls shouldn't go to school.. they poison their own daughters. really? This is what the Taliban believe, they are Islamists or Muslims? Do they really do this stuff to girls?
I am just grateful that neither my daughter nor I have to live in that h*** hole. Pray for our soldiers because sooner or later they will be all that stands between us and that life. Islam will not willingly stop at our shores.
This would happen in any country that allowed it. If the US government were any less stable, the Westborough Baptist church would be doing the same thing.
Yeah if we let someone like Santorum and the religious right take charge, we would be here in no time.
This country has had freedom and EDUCATION for far to long for that to ever happen.
What I'm saying is that it's not the religion; it's the government that gives religious extremists free reign to "govern" themselves
This has nothing to do woith Islam you friggin idiots. It's the Male Dominated culture that wants women barefoot and pregnant and it happens in all cultures whether Muslium, Hindu or Christian, where the man runs the family and education is missing.
amen
Mark: thank you!
Just because you call yourself Irish catholic doesn't make you an authority on barefoot and pregnant!