Afghanistan and the lessons of history

The history of Vietnam is not the only source of historical insight into Afghanistan.

Because of the threats from violent racist ideologues , Republican President Eisenhower used Federal troops and U.S. Marshalls to protect African-American children as they attended integrated schools to obtain a quality education.

In Afghanistan, violent religious extremists who oppose the education of women have thrown acid into the faces of little girls attending school.

One of President Obama's goals is provide support and training for Afghan police and soldiers so they will protect Afghan girls attending schools.

The violent racist ideology that threatened American children is still active but is marginalized, isolated, and mostly ineffective. In a similar way, another goal is to help create conditions in which Afghan society can isolate and marginalize those who opposed the education of women.