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A Woman Among Warlords

the Extraordinary Story of An Afghan Who Dared to Raise Her Voice
Jul 04, 2011
This is an important book for all Americans who care about the war in Afghanistan. The author, Malalai Joya, was only in her early 20s when she was elected by the women in her community to represent them at a constitutional convention. She was only allowed to speak for 90 seconds but she became world famous because in a few words she denounced the leaders of Afghanistan as warlords and criminals. She was subsequently elected to Parliament where she continued to be a critic of the many war criminals who were seated there. Because of her words, she was eventually kicked out of parliament and threatened with beatings and even death. She survives by having bodyguards with her constantly and changing her sleeping place from one safe house to the next. And yet she continues to tell the truth, despite the risk to her life. She criticizes President Karzai, who is supported by the American government, because he allows the warlords and war criminals to continue to have the major power in his administration. She maintains that the US government isn't helping the people of Afghanistan by supporting Karzai and warlords. She wants the US to stop bombing her country because thousands of innocent civilians are being killed. Read this book; it will make you look differently at Bush's, and now Obama's, war against terror in Afghanistan.