A new law ready for Karzai to sign allows men to attack their wives, children and sisters without fear of judicial punishment. This will legalize so-called “honor ” killings, forced marriage and domestic abuse once again. The law effectively silences both victims and potential witnesses. In the past year the Afghan parliament has cut the quota for women on provincial councils, and the ministry of “justice” has floated a proposal to bring back stoning as a punishment for adultery.

It is clear what is happening: the current regime wants to survive a Taliban takeover and, to avoid assassination, is re-introducing medieval Taliban laws and customs to assuage the insurgents.

Our effort to modernize the country has failed. Epicureans believe in the promotion of happiness. We cannot go to fresh war with these reactionaries, so let them be, to fester in their antediluvian customs. There is only so much the West can do, and we have collectively done it. Happiness is not for Afghan women. Unless, of course, they adopt the Lysistrata strategy: no sex until you shape up! That would fix the brutes. I can’t think of any other answer.