Freedom and Liberty for all
President Bush, speaking on Women's Equality Day, 2002: "Our coalition has liberated Afghanistan and restored fundamental human rights and freedoms to Afghan women, and all the people of Afghanistan. Young girls in Afghanistan are able to attend schools for the first time."
(In other words, "Mission Accomplished.")
From an AP article published yesterday: "The United Nations says nearly half of all marriages in Afghanistan are thought to involve girls under age 16. The UN Population Fund said today in a statement that in some rural areas children as young as six years old are married off by their families. The statement added that it is common for girls to be traded to resolve conflicts between tribal families. Such children usually become the 'property' of the family or individual who receives them."
Wow. We really liberated those women in Afghanistan from the evil Taliban.
Then again, many people don't even remember that we fought a war of liberation in Afghanistan. The war for the "liberation" of Iraq ecliplsed that previous conflict, as I'm sure some other war or scandel will eclipse what's happening in Iraq.
If we're going to stick our noses into other people's business and claim to offer something superior, then we should definitely stick around long enough to make sure that the mess is cleaned up properly.
If we don't, all we do is (justifiably) breed more ill-will for the "meddling Americans."
Alas, things are looking grim already for thos Iraqi women who were promised so much freedom as well....
UPDATE
(Thanks, royal_spice!)
Dear lord.
That's just...gag-worthy.
It's also kinda funny.
George W(omen) Bush.
Now there's a man in touch with his femininity.
Tee hee.