It seemed like a can't-miss, never-fail style of diplomacy: World leaders pathetically begging the hardline misogynistic theocrats running Afghanistan to ensure that women are treated fairly and that the new Taliban government is "inclusive" to that end. How could it go wrong?
Meanwhile, in Afghanistan:
Tightening the Taliban's restrictions on women, the group's new chancellor for Kabul University announced on Monday that women would be indefinitely banned from the institution either as instructors or students.
"I give you my words as chancellor of Kabul University," Mohammad Ashraf Ghairat said in a Tweet on Monday. "As long as a real Islamic environment is not provided for all, women will not be allowed to come to universities or work. Islam first."
Every single leader in the West right now:
This may seem like a setback for advocates of progress and equity. But hear me out: What if the U.S., the United Nations, the European Union, and everyone else simply doubled down and continued issuing toothless, meaningless entreaties for the hardcore Islamists in the Taliban to be "inclusive" as they cement their iron grip on Afghanistan?
Go for it, world leaders!
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