When the Taliban took control of Kabul, many Afghans destroyed their books and TV sets. Belquis Ahmadi's family left the country when women lost their rights. Today, Ahmadi lives in exile, campaigning for women to play a major role in a new Afghan government. Her story in this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge.
Belquis Ahmadi is Afghan, Sameena Nazir is Pakistani. Both live in the United States, where they work for the International Human Rights Law Group. They tell Steve Paulson why Afghans welcomed the Taliban at first, what happened when they revealed their hidden agenda of oppressing women and controlling education, and why women must be included in the new Afghan government. Also, commentator Jean Feraca describes her own response to the Taliban's repression of women.SEGMENT 2:
Andrew Carroll is the author/editor of "War Letters." He talks with Anne Strainchamps about what letters from various wars have in common, and reads excerpts from Civil War and WWII letters. Also, historian Joseph Persico, author of "Roosevelt's Secret War," tells Jim Fleming that Roosevelt loved the thrilling, clandestine aspects of espionage, and had to learn to appreciate the advantages of electronic, or "signals" spying. He says most of what the U.S. knew about the Nazi's war plans came from intercepted Japanese diplomatic messages.SEGMENT 3:
Engineer Bill Gurstelle loves things that go BOOM! He's the author of "Backyard Ballistics," and brings some of his favorite contraptions into the studio. Gurstelle tells Jim Fleming how to build and operate the Potato Cannon, a Roman catapult, and a flaming kite. And how to play safely with this stuff.Cassette copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 01-12-09-A.
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