Comments on: Time Magazine Once Again Trots Out The Tired And Inexcusable ‘We’re In Afghanistan (And Have To Stay) To Protect Women’ Mantra http://www.feministpeacenetwork.org/2010/07/29/time-magazine-once-again-trots-out-the-tired-and-inexcusable-were-in-afghanistan-and-have-to-stay-to-protect-women-mantra/ UrGently Fierce Feminism In Perilous Times Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:02:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Global Feminist Link Love: July 26-August 1 « Gender Across Borders http://www.feministpeacenetwork.org/2010/07/29/time-magazine-once-again-trots-out-the-tired-and-inexcusable-were-in-afghanistan-and-have-to-stay-to-protect-women-mantra/comment-page-1/#comment-268681 Global Feminist Link Love: July 26-August 1 « Gender Across Borders Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:03:39 +0000 http://www.feministpeacenetwork.org/?p=3147#comment-268681 [...] Time Magazine Once Again Trots Out The Tired And Inexcusable ‘We’re In Afghanistan (And Have To ... (Feminist Peace Network) [...] [...] Time Magazine Once Again Trots Out The Tired And Inexcusable ‘We’re In Afghanistan (And Have To … (Feminist Peace Network) [...]

]]> By: What Happens When We Leave? | Anna Clover http://www.feministpeacenetwork.org/2010/07/29/time-magazine-once-again-trots-out-the-tired-and-inexcusable-were-in-afghanistan-and-have-to-stay-to-protect-women-mantra/comment-page-1/#comment-268664 What Happens When We Leave? | Anna Clover Mon, 02 Aug 2010 10:32:57 +0000 http://www.feministpeacenetwork.org/?p=3147#comment-268664 [...] sway of horror and shock, followed largely by gratitude for being born American. Conversely, on the Feminist Peace Network, outrage that a young girls image was being exploited for the use of war [...] [...] sway of horror and shock, followed largely by gratitude for being born American. Conversely, on the Feminist Peace Network, outrage that a young girls image was being exploited for the use of war [...]

]]> By: lee4713 http://www.feministpeacenetwork.org/2010/07/29/time-magazine-once-again-trots-out-the-tired-and-inexcusable-were-in-afghanistan-and-have-to-stay-to-protect-women-mantra/comment-page-1/#comment-268655 lee4713 Sun, 01 Aug 2010 23:54:26 +0000 http://www.feministpeacenetwork.org/?p=3147#comment-268655 And of COURSE the military and its corporate surrogates (i.e. Halliburton) have a spotless record in terms of their treatment of female employees. And of COURSE the military and its corporate surrogates (i.e. Halliburton) have a spotless record in terms of their treatment of female employees.

]]> By: admin http://www.feministpeacenetwork.org/2010/07/29/time-magazine-once-again-trots-out-the-tired-and-inexcusable-were-in-afghanistan-and-have-to-stay-to-protect-women-mantra/comment-page-1/#comment-268627 admin Sun, 01 Aug 2010 17:56:50 +0000 http://www.feministpeacenetwork.org/?p=3147#comment-268627 Sometimes, you might want to take a look at this, http://www.feministpeacenetwork.org/2010/07/31/cia-document-calls-for-using-afghan-women-as-messengers-to-humanize-the-war/. Using the plight of women to sell the war is a calculated strategy and has been since the beginning of the war and as I note in a later post, both the NYT and McClatchy have run pieces very similar to the Time piece this week, which smacks of a talking point strategy to me. Sometimes, you might want to take a look at this, http://www.feministpeacenetwork.org/2010/07/31/cia-document-calls-for-using-afghan-women-as-messengers-to-humanize-the-war/. Using the plight of women to sell the war is a calculated strategy and has been since the beginning of the war and as I note in a later post, both the NYT and McClatchy have run pieces very similar to the Time piece this week, which smacks of a talking point strategy to me.

]]> By: SometimesJB http://www.feministpeacenetwork.org/2010/07/29/time-magazine-once-again-trots-out-the-tired-and-inexcusable-were-in-afghanistan-and-have-to-stay-to-protect-women-mantra/comment-page-1/#comment-268540 SometimesJB Sun, 01 Aug 2010 03:01:33 +0000 http://www.feministpeacenetwork.org/?p=3147#comment-268540 Are things, in fact, deteriorating? By what metric? In whose opinion? What, precisely, is the reason given? Scenarios like the well-documented case of the Pir Mohammed School in Sanjaray, Kandahar are emblematic of exactly why we need to maintain a presence in Afghanistan. The Taliban want to shut down schools, hospitals, and effectively all civilized life in Afghanistan (and beyond). We want to restore and improve the lives of people there. The "battle" is really that simple, and for soldiers on the ground, it is a battle worth fighting (and dying for). Their words, not mine. Also in the words of the commanding officer there, "[other] people will always have the luxury of second guessing these decisions from another place and time". For my part, I don't doubt these soldiers when they declare the importance of staying the course. I do doubt the value of withdrawal. You are, of course, free to speculate as to what might happen if we stay, but there's no need to speculate as to what happens if we withdraw. The history of the region prior to the events of 9/11 supplants any need for such speculation. These guys are fixing for a fight, and they'll surely pick one with us, whether we like it or not. Are things, in fact, deteriorating? By what metric? In whose opinion? What, precisely, is the reason given?

Scenarios like the well-documented case of the Pir Mohammed School in Sanjaray, Kandahar are emblematic of exactly why we need to maintain a presence in Afghanistan. The Taliban want to shut down schools, hospitals, and effectively all civilized life in Afghanistan (and beyond). We want to restore and improve the lives of people there. The “battle” is really that simple, and for soldiers on the ground, it is a battle worth fighting (and dying for). Their words, not mine.

Also in the words of the commanding officer there, “[other] people will always have the luxury of second guessing these decisions from another place and time”. For my part, I don’t doubt these soldiers when they declare the importance of staying the course.

I do doubt the value of withdrawal. You are, of course, free to speculate as to what might happen if we stay, but there’s no need to speculate as to what happens if we withdraw. The history of the region prior to the events of 9/11 supplants any need for such speculation. These guys are fixing for a fight, and they’ll surely pick one with us, whether we like it or not.

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