Senate, Barbara Boxer Take Big Foreign Policy Step For Women in Poverty

Iraq had been a modern society with one of the highest levels of freedom for women in the Middle-East before Hussein's foolhardy and possibly U.S. encouraged invasion of Kuwait. Of course there had been rape since men everywhere (even the U.S.!)have this propensity. All Iraqis suffered under the US/UN controls following that short war. But not until the U.S. 2003 invasion and the following destabilization, did the religious factions take over neighborhoods and exert sharia-like laws on both women and men. Only then were women afraid to leave their houses for school, work, or family shopping and visiting friends. Only then did they all begin to "religiously" wear the veils and burkas of the Islamic world. The US has sent them back centuries.

On the other hand, the world had known of the terrible treatment of Afghani women under the Taliban but chose to ignore it. For a short while after our invasion it appeared that there was significant improvement, but in no time at all the warlords were put in power and the awful treatment continued under their controlling gaze. Women and girls who go to school or work with any sense of empowerment are at extreme risk of death or disfigurement. Burkas are a form of safety again.

I do regard Senator Boxer's environmental work as largely beneficial. As far as this new Subcommittee, I do wish she will bring more light to the suffering women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo where fighters of the many forces (including their own!) have gang-raped women, girls and even babies with impunity as they have won and lost territory. These women have been shamed and seriously injured as they have withstood this vicious torture where some fighters have even used implements that have torn women up inside. This must be addressed by her subcommittee soon, and if enough of the world is alerted perhaps these men can be reminded that we live in a world of caring people. They must be stopped; they must be held accountable. An police force of women would be very helpful.

Helping women and bringing democracy and human rights all depend on men learning that women are people also. Religions can interfere with this understanding, since they tend to be extremely patriarchal. Even here we won't pass the ERA because some fear women having power! There is a lot of work to be done.

Elise of CA 10:46AM February 12, 2009