American Morning
$1 trillion of minerals in Afghanistan
(CNN) – According to the New York Times, a massive reserve of mineral deposits has been found in Afghanistan. Our Christine Romans has the report.
Militants attack Bagram Air Base
From Atia Abawi, CNN
Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) – Nearly a dozen insurgents and a U.S. contractor were killed when a group launched an early morning attack on Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan on Wednesday, officials said.
Nine service members were wounded and a building received minor damages during the attack, which included rockets, small arms and grenades. Four of the slain insurgents were "intended suicide bombers," the military said.
U.S. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Clarence Count Jr. said the insurgents failed "to breach the perimeter" and were "unable to detonate their suicide vests."
"The quick defensive reaction by the Bagram security forces likely saved a lot of lives," he said.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told CNN that 20 armed men wearing suicide vests stormed the base around 4 a.m. (7:30 p.m. Tuesday ET), with four them detonating at the entrances to allow the other men to move in. Mujahid said that a "major firefight" took place inside the base. Read more
Mobile surgical unit saving lives in Afghanistan
(CNN) – It is the "MASH" unit of the modern battlefield – an emergency room crammed into a metal box that is with the Marines on the front lines every step of the way.
It's giving military doctors a priceless head start on saving lives, but they do not come cheap. Our Chris Lawrence has the story from Kabul.
Afghan women: Don't exclude our men
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/07/afghan.women.world.vision.art.jpg caption="World Vision International launched a project in Afghanistan to train midwives to curb the staggering infant mortality rate in the country."]
By Carol Costello, CNN
(CNN) – In a place where women have few rights, it seems improbable women would plead for men's advancement too. But, it's happening in Afghanistan.
Not for the reasons you might think, but because many Afghan women realize without the support of fathers, brothers and uncles, they will remain second-class citizens.
For years, the United States has developed and funded special "women's only" programs to help women start their own small businesses.
And while those efforts have been greatly appreciated, some global women's groups wonder if these programs are as effective as they could be when it comes to achieving equality in a patriarchal society.
More disturbingly, some other women's groups say these efforts, if not done well, may actually endanger women.
"Women are put at greater risk of violence when they must return home to frustrated, unemployed husbands who don't understand why their wives are getting training and credit and they are not," says Ritu Sharma, president of Women Thrive Worldwide.
It's time, says Sharma, to look at helping Afghan women in a more inclusive way – and that means including brothers and husbands – as well as sisters and wives.
"Gender is about looking at the different roles ... that men and women have in their families ... and then designing projects that meet everyone's needs."
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