Malala to Obama: Drone strikes 'fueling terrorism'

[TerranceL]

Malala to Obama: Drone strikes 'fueling terrorism' - CNN.com

Washington (CNN) -- The "Bravest Girl in the World" has stood up to President Barack Obama.
Malala Yousafzai, the 16-year-old shot by the Taliban for promoting girl's education in her native Pakistan, confronted Obama at the White House on Friday about U.S. drone strikes.
In a meeting that included first lady Michelle Obama, the young activist challenged one of Obama's premier counterterrorism strategies.
"I also expressed my concerns that drone attacks are fueling terrorism," she said in a statement released today. "Innocent victims are killed in these acts, and they lead to resentment among the Pakistani people. If we refocus efforts on education it will make a big impact."

It'd be awesome if he listened to her.

 

[Bedford]

Why should he listen to a 16 year old girl? Tell us what special knowledge about terrorists she has to make him listen? Even without the drone strikes, girls like Malala will still be second class citizens.

 

[wintermile]

Why should he listen to a 16 year old girl? Tell us what special knowledge about terrorists she has to make him listen? Even without the drone strikes, girls like Malala will still be second class citizens.

Obama will listen to Malala because Malala is bold.

As Omid Safi points out this post at Religion News Service, Malala, like so many Muslim reformers and other activists in the global South, is in a position where she must speak out “against both abuses of Muslim extremists and Western colonial powers.”

"As for Malala, it means simultaneously to speak against the misogynist policies of the Taliban AND the violence inflicted on the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan by American drones. It takes a bold person to speak that type of truth to power, especially when the power is the charismatic power of the Office of the President of the United States.”

Quote of the Day: Malala calls out President Obama on drone strikes

 

[TerranceL]

Why should he listen to a 16 year old girl? Tell us what special knowledge about terrorists she has to make him listen? Even without the drone strikes, girls like Malala will still be second class citizens.

I believe the Taliban takes the same stance.

 

[Bedford]

I believe the Taliban takes the same stance.

Way to ignore the questions.

I guess you have no answer to why Obama should listen to a 16 year old girl.

 

[abdAlSalam]

It'd be awesome if he listened to her.

I just want to say that in terms of education, as well as other problems in Pakistan, it is high time that we did something to tackle them ourselves. It’s important to take the initiative. We cannot wait around for any one else to come and do it. Why are we waiting for someone else to come and fix things? Why aren’t we doing it ourselves?

“I would like to send my heartfelt greetings to the congress. I am convinced Socialism is the only answer and I urge all comrades to take this struggle to a victorious conclusion. Only this will free us from the chains of bigotry and exploitation.”

Indeed.

 

[TerranceL]

Obama will listen to Malala because Malala is bold.

She's a hero.

 

[jazzflower92]

I believe the Taliban takes the same stance.

She deserves to have her opinion heard after what she has been through and believe me you would become politically active after a life turning event like that.

 

[TerranceL]

Indeed.

I wish she had won the Nobel Peace Prize.

 

[super animator]

Indeed.

I not seeing the point.

 

[abdAlSalam]

I not seeing the point.

I am saying that Obama should listen to Malala and work with the people to institute a socialist state.

 

[TerranceL]

She deserves to have her opinion heard after what she has been through and believe me you would become politically active after a life turning event like that.

After the attack anybody would have understood if she had kept quiet, but she didn't.

Every time I see her in the news I wonder how much longer she'll be around.

 

[TerranceL]

I am saying that Obama should listen to Malala and work with the people to institute a socialist state.

That quote is actually from a message she sent to the marxist pakistani congress not obama.

 

[super animator]

I am saying that Obama should listen to Malala and work with the people to institute a socialist state.

Heh, I don't think it well go well for him, due to the people's ignorance of what is socialism is back in the usa.

 

[Paradoxum]

Hopefully Obama will stop the strikes... I don't know how likely that is though.

 

[Douger]

Holy cow! this girl is brave. God bless and keep you safe Malala, you're amazing.

 

[TerranceL]

Hopefully Obama will stop the strikes... I don't know how likely that is though.

I'd say it's fairly unlikely, he already knows about the civilian casualties. His own party wont hold him to account because they don't want to be seen as weakening his position and most republicans support it and think more should be done.

Fortunately for him we are in the middle of the political opera season so I doubt all that many people have paid attention to what she said. That is if they even know who she is.

 

[wintermile]

After the attack anybody would have understood if she had kept quiet, but she didn't.

Every time I see her in the news I wonder how much longer she'll be around.

She had better be around for a lifetime. All she plans to do, she had better not leave out any security issues. She is determined that others in Pakistan experience the same calm confidence she has experienced while learning. This means she needs tremendous international support if she returns to Pakistan briefly.

Malala Yousafzai on life in Britain: 'We have never seen women so free' | World news | theguardian.com

Although she has been warned against returning to Pakistan for her own personal safety, Malala said she could not allow the thought or fear of a future terrorist threat to frighten her away from her mission to help Pakistan.

On the letter sent to her by a senior Taliban commander wishing her well but explaining why she was targeted, she said she "felt nothing".

Rob Asghar has a lot of praise for Malala.

Malala Is A Rare Leader—But Pakistanis Aren’t Following | USC Center on Public Diplomacy | PD News – CPD Blog

The Malala conspiracy theories are perhaps the cruelest of all such theories. This determined and irrepressible symbol of the best of the human spirit has a chance to be Pakistan’s Gandhi, MLK and Rosa Parks all rolled up in one. To see her countrymen dismiss her as a Western pawn is to see them reject the best within themselves, at just the moment that they most need to summon the best within.

 

[Paradoxum]

I'd say it's fairly unlikely, he already knows about the civilian casualties. His own party wont hold him to account because they don't want to be seen as weakening his position and most republicans support it and think more should be done.

Fortunately for him we are in the middle of the political opera season so I doubt all that many people have paid attention to what she said. That is if they even know who she is.

Well, hopefully the next President will see sense.

 

[stamperben]

Way to ignore the questions.

I guess you have no answer to why Obama should listen to a 16 year old girl.

Because she's been there and KNOWS what she's talking about!

Many are wise beyond their years. This girl is one of them.