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America's chief moral argument for continuing to intervene in Afghanistan is now that the Taliban will mistreat women and girls. There is a simple solution tha

America's chief moral argument for continuing to intervene in Afghanistan is now that the Taliban will mistreat women and girls. There is a simple solution that does not require indefinite occupation: Hold the country for a year or two longer, and sponsor free flights to the US for Afghan women. Obviously, also provide expedited US residency. Imagine what the US government could do with a large fleet of cargo aircraft. For that year or two, the US could maintain a network of fortified franchises, throughout the country, to which women could go. These would be advertised widely. It could also conduct periodic "door-kicking" raids of Afghan homes, in order to rescue any women who may be held there under patriarchal conditions. Logistically, the easiest way to do this would be to bring all the women encountered to US military bases. There, outside of earshot of their "husbands", they could be offered the choice of free transportation back home (if they really are happy with their marriages), or transportation to the United States (if they are not). In addition to the usual "tough guys" employed by the US military, this would also create useful employment for American women, who we can expect would be better able to relate to the Afghan women than the dudes-with-guns would be. Essentially, they'd be working in Human Resources. A successful program would uplift the rights of women, bring millions of new workers to America, and destroy Taliban biopower, all with a single stroke. And America has no shortage of cargo aircraft to do this.

ASalazarMX 5y ago
This reads like the plot of a B movie. Would the women refugees be able to bring their children too? Would they be allowed to form an Little Afghan since most of them don't speak English or know the local culture? Would they be protected from the hate against Arabs the media has fanned for two decades? T-trust me Morty, I assure you this will burp work!
- FooBarBizBazz 5y ago
  > Would they be allowed to form an Little Afghan since most of them don't speak English or know the local culture? Of course, this is always allowed. Chinatown, Little Italy, strip malls throughout America... Why would Afghans be any different? But, now that you mention the language difficulties, well, that's actually a good idea. Hook women up with English lessons, maybe at local libraries. There'd probably be no shortage of English-speaking volunteers who'd help for free, but some government funding couldn't hurt. Surely it's cheaper than funding a war. > Would the women refugees be able to bring their children too? Sure, if they want. Not sure what the age threshold should be for male children. Maybe 16. > Would they be protected from the hate against Arabs the media has fanned for two decades? Not completely, but you can't compare the occasional racist in America to enslavement by the Taliban. > This reads like the plot of a B movie. I do my best.
- tablespoon 5y ago
  > This reads like the plot of a B movie. It's also very HN (e.g. overconfident software engineer wondering far outside their area of knowledge with some harebrained idea/analysis that's full of holes).
azth 5y ago
I can't tell if what you're suggesting is serious. Very presumptuous to assume that the liberal Western philosophy is the "true" way and the "moral" way. It isn't, not even by a 100 miles.
raxxorrax 5y ago
What would you do with those girl and women? You have to educate them and many of them don't want to leave their families behind. There is no weekend course for integrating in western societies and you would probably have large difficulties integrating them into the job market. These wars weren't fought because women were treated badly and some "hot-head grunt purging the patriarchy" is not helpful at all. > Essentially, they'd be working in Human Resources. Contrary to popular belief, you have to be qualified for that. Especially you need to know the culture and the law... This is just all around a bad idea. edit: Another comment said it better: "This reads like the plot of a B movie."
- FooBarBizBazz 5y ago
  > These wars weren't fought because women were treated badly Originally, sure, it was about 9/11, but that was a long time ago. That's not what we talk about any more. > many of them don't want to leave their families behind. I was careful to construct my solution in a way that gave each woman a choice about that. Don't you think many would choose America over their "families"? > There is no weekend course for integrating in western societies The proven way to turn someone into an American, is for them to choose to come to America. That's all you need. > Contrary to popular belief, you have to be qualified [to work in HR] I wasn't commenting on the qualifications of HR professionals, but about the nature of the human resources themselves. > What would you do with those girl and women? You have to educate them The Transportation Safety Administration could be expanded. Starbucks and Lyft also both have famously inclusive work cultures, and Starbucks offers free college education. > you would probably have large difficulties integrating them into the job market. Supply and demand will find an equilibrium. > This is just all around a bad idea. It's a lot more likely to succeed that the original Bush/Cheney fantasy.

ASalazarMX 5y ago

This reads like the plot of a B movie. Would the women refugees be able to bring their children too? Would they be allowed to form an Little Afghan since most of them don't speak English or know the local culture? Would they be protected from the hate against Arabs the media has fanned for two decades? T-trust me Morty, I assure you this will burp work!

FooBarBizBazz 5y ago
> Would they be allowed to form an Little Afghan since most of them don't speak English or know the local culture? Of course, this is always allowed. Chinatown, Little Italy, strip malls throughout America... Why would Afghans be any different? But, now that you mention the language difficulties, well, that's actually a good idea. Hook women up with English lessons, maybe at local libraries. There'd probably be no shortage of English-speaking volunteers who'd help for free, but some government funding couldn't hurt. Surely it's cheaper than funding a war. > Would the women refugees be able to bring their children too? Sure, if they want. Not sure what the age threshold should be for male children. Maybe 16. > Would they be protected from the hate against Arabs the media has fanned for two decades? Not completely, but you can't compare the occasional racist in America to enslavement by the Taliban. > This reads like the plot of a B movie. I do my best.
tablespoon 5y ago
> This reads like the plot of a B movie. It's also very HN (e.g. overconfident software engineer wondering far outside their area of knowledge with some harebrained idea/analysis that's full of holes).

azth 5y ago

I can't tell if what you're suggesting is serious. Very presumptuous to assume that the liberal Western philosophy is the "true" way and the "moral" way. It isn't, not even by a 100 miles.

raxxorrax 5y ago

What would you do with those girl and women? You have to educate them and many of them don't want to leave their families behind. There is no weekend course for integrating in western societies and you would probably have large difficulties integrating them into the job market. These wars weren't fought because women were treated badly and some "hot-head grunt purging the patriarchy" is not helpful at all. > Essentially, they'd be working in Human Resources. Contrary to popular belief, you have to be qualified for that. Especially you need to know the culture and the law... This is just all around a bad idea. edit: Another comment said it better: "This reads like the plot of a B movie."

FooBarBizBazz 5y ago
> These wars weren't fought because women were treated badly Originally, sure, it was about 9/11, but that was a long time ago. That's not what we talk about any more. > many of them don't want to leave their families behind. I was careful to construct my solution in a way that gave each woman a choice about that. Don't you think many would choose America over their "families"? > There is no weekend course for integrating in western societies The proven way to turn someone into an American, is for them to choose to come to America. That's all you need. > Contrary to popular belief, you have to be qualified [to work in HR] I wasn't commenting on the qualifications of HR professionals, but about the nature of the human resources themselves. > What would you do with those girl and women? You have to educate them The Transportation Safety Administration could be expanded. Starbucks and Lyft also both have famously inclusive work cultures, and Starbucks offers free college education. > you would probably have large difficulties integrating them into the job market. Supply and demand will find an equilibrium. > This is just all around a bad idea. It's a lot more likely to succeed that the original Bush/Cheney fantasy.