Afghan Gunmen Kill Female Government Official

The Obama Administration still seems to think that it can talk Taliban militants into laying down their weapons, re-integrating into Afghan society and living happily ever after in a democratic and free nation, where women aren't marginalized, terrorized or killed. So, even though the Taliban obviously have no interest, the U.S. is trying to reach out to them, again, in an attempt to broker some sort of peace agreement.  But first the Taliban want the Guantanamo prisoners back, though they'll give us Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl- one of our soldiers who has been held in Pakistan since 2009- in exchange. But one of the conditions necessary for the U.S. to send their terrorists back is predicated on the Taliban making two public statements:

... rejecting the international terrorism practiced by al-Qaeda and supporting democracy in Afghanistan. 

Obama is still waiting- it's been about a year, now. We also tried back in June 2012 to bring peace talks back on the table by getting the government of Qatar to broach the subject with Taliban negotiators. Not a peep.

It's quite obvious the Taliban have no desire for peace, democracy or rejecting terrorism. We've been there how long? 11 years? And they're as violent and stronger than ever. All they have to do is wait it out until we are out of their country, and it will rapidly revert  back to the dark ages.

Until then, they will continue with their acts of terrorism against NATO troops and their own people. And they'll continue targeting women in government positions, like Najia Sediqi who was assassinated by gunmen in broad daylight.

KABUL, Afghanistan — The acting head of women’s affairs in Laghman Province in eastern Afghanistan was shot to death in daylight on Monday as she was traveling to work.

It was the second time in less than six months that the person holding that post has been assassinated. In the latest attack, two assailants on a motorcycle gunned down Najia Sediqi, the acting head, as she was getting into a rickshaw in Mehtar Lam, the provincial capital, according to Ahmad Gul Baidar, the head of administrative affairs for the women’s department.

In July, Ms. Sediqi’s predecessor, Hanifa Safi, was killed when an improvised bomb exploded under her car — an attack attributed to the Taliban but never fully investigated. Before that attack, Ms. Safi had been threatened because she had protected a young girl who married someone she loved rather than an older man to whom she had been promised.  [snip] 

Zufenon Safi, who represents Laghman in Parliament, believes that both killings were carried out by the Taliban, who have gathered strength in the province. Elders and other local people say security has deteriorated in the area, whose control was turned over to the Afghan government by coalition forces last summer.

“Targeting important government officials is part of the Taliban strategy to undermine the government’s and the foreign forces’ efforts in the country,” Ms. Safi said, referring to the international coalition.

She said the Taliban singles out women in government posts because they know that killing them will garner more publicity.

“There is only one reason behind killing women: to prevent women from working in the government,” Ms. Safi added. “We should expect more similar assassinations in the upcoming weeks and months because they have threatened every female civil servant, including members of the provincial council and teachers.”

Like Palestine, there will be no peace there as long as radicals reside in that country.