The trouble with Pashtun culture

In the Gurbuz districto of Khost province, a Pashtun village elder tells Ann Marlowe, a NY-based reporter:

We do not let our girls go to school. If a male teacher saw them, it would not be good for them.

Daoud Sultanzoy, member of the Afghan parliament, upon hearing a traditional Pashtun song:

Another song about how we Pashtuns are brave swordsmen! What about brave scientists? Brave doctors? Brave government officials? That is what this country needs. We can take a few years off from being brave swordsmen.

Still, the situation is not hopeless as Ann Marlowe reports in the May 19 issue of the Weekly Standard.

In the eastern provinces that borders Pakistan, for example, 72 out of 86 districts are now under the control of the central government. The American commanding credited with this success, Colonel Marty Schweitzer of the 82nd Airborne Division says that this came at a cost of only 11 civilian casualties.

As said: "If you [can bring these people] the benefits of government, they will take it every time."