U.S.-backed Afghan government: "But we will use only small stones."

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.boiseweekly.com/gyrobase/PrintFriendly?oid=oid%3A160522

NEW YORK--The case of the Afghan man who faced execution for converting to Christianity illustrates the conundrum of "regime change."

OK, so your army has just rolled into a foreign capital. You can do whatever you want. However, if you interfere with the internal affairs of a liberated country, and you tell them what to do--you haven't liberated them at all. But if you can't change anything, what's the point?

From a column I wrote over four years ago upon my return from Afghanistan, in February of 2002: "Nothing has changed in Afghanistan, simply because there has been no meaningful attempt to de-Talibanize. Well-known figures like Mullah Omar may be in hiding, but today's Northern Alliance-dominated regime is almost entirely comprised of Taliban defectors. So while prime minister Hamid Karzai cuts a dashing figure with his green Tajik robe and impeccable English, the heavily-armed men ordinary Afghans come into contact with on the streets are merely gussied-up Talibs. Some liberation."

A couple of months earlier, Ahamat Ullha Zarif, a top Afghan judge for the new U.S.-backed government, explained the differences between the old and new justice systems. "The Taliban used to hang the victim's body in public for four days," he recalled. Not anymore. "We will only hang the body for a short time, say 15 minutes." Adulterers were stoned to death under the Taliban legal system, which was based on strict Sharia, or Islamic law. They still would be, Judge Zarif explained, "But we will use only small stones."

[nam78_two]

1. jeeesus

There's more paperwork, but nothing new: Sharia is still the law of the land.
A couple of months earlier, Ahamat Ullha Zarif, a top Afghan judge for the new U.S.-backed government, explained the differences between the old and new justice systems. "The Taliban used to hang the victim's body in public for four days," he recalled. Not anymore. "We will only hang the body for a short time, say 15 minutes." Adulterers were stoned to death under the Taliban legal system, which was based on strict Sharia, or Islamic law. They still would be, Judge Zarif explained, "But we will use only small stones

un-fucking-believeable.....

[uppityperson]

2. small stones hurt more, take longer to kill than big ones.

small stones are by far worse.

[DeSwiss]

3. Shaking head......

From my post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1829090#1829090

When I read and hear about things such as this, I'm reminded of Star Trek's "Prime Directive." The improper introduction of advanced technology and the misapplication of modern thinking within primitive societies. With all the gadgets and technology, essentially Iran is still a primitive society with barbarians wielding advanced weaponry supplied largely by the US and western countries. All we want is the OIL.

All religions are primitive. And while they may hold "truths" within them, no more so than non-religious understanding has achieved. Believers continue to try and define the modern world and our reality using these ancient understandings and definitions -- and we will always come up short. We will continue to have a disconnect with our world and modern viewpoints. And that is simply because those words and those beliefs and understandings were intended for ancient mankind of 2,000, to 5,000 years ago.

I can never understand how, nor why we have allowed our thinking and understanding in this one area to become LOCKED in antiquity. As if everything else around us can evolve and improve through our understanding, but not religion and its beliefs. Whether WE continue to stone people or not. Modern societies like the US stone with words and the denial of full and equal rights.

Stoning is barbarity at its worst. It harkens back to our most primitive selves, when all we had were sticks and stones to do battle with nature, wild animals and each other. From the time when we still lived in caves. It's codification into religion is a solution concocted by barbaric desert-dwelling tribesmen of patriarchal societies. Another means to control man's chattel -- women. At least in Judaism, BOTH adulterers were to be stoned. In Islam, there is no such equal "stoning" opportunity for men. They believe that men are held hostage to the wiles of women and only chastity and the constant protection by other male family members can keep their primitive lusts at bay. That is why women are required to wear burkas in desert heat, to shield men from the demons within themselves. Demons that only a woman can release with her beauty. Its the perfect male system of denial. "Her breasts made me do it."

In spite of our "improvements" back here at home, we can and should condemn these heinous acts for what they are. Brutal thugs committing atrocious acts of violence against helpless victims. They are cowards whose proof of power and manhood can only be confirmed by the domination and threat of death against those weaker than themselves. They are bullies. Meting out a kind of judgment that all these religions claim to be reserved for God. Islam claims that Jesus was an Islamic prophet. Apparently they missed His message about love and forgiveness......

[NNN0LHI]

4. Boy we sure liberated them Afghan people didn't we? n/t