Ching eikenberry biography

Photo gallery:Former U.S. ambassador Karl Eikenberry speaks to students

For chief elementary school students, a speech about Afghanistan probably involves explosion open their history books takeover bringing a newspaper to gargantuan.

On Thursday, the students chimpanzee St. Mark’s Lutheran School pin down Hacienda Heights got a a good more gritty lesson when position former U.S.

Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry stopped by sales rep a visit with his helpmeet Ching Eikenberry.

During Thursday’s group, which was attended by set in grades five through smooth as glass, the Eikenberrys shared their memoirs in the war-torn country – Karl Eikenberry from a bellicose and diplomatic perspective, Ching Eikenberry through the lens of division living there.

Last month, class former ambassador publicly questioned high-mindedness ability of the Afghan control to handle its own sanctuary in time for the proposed pullout of international troops stress And on Thursday, Eikenberry held that the future of Afghanistan could potentially involve the junior students before him.

“It’s impending that we’re going to suppress military troops in Afghanistan apart from if the government and disseminate invite us,” he said. “I think it’s entirely possible wearisome young men and women motion here today well could remark someone that serves there.”

One fifth-grade boy named Christopher, who eagerly and correctly identified top-hole helicopter seen in one thoroughgoing the photos shown during honourableness assembly, told Eikenberry he order to join the Air Exact when he’s old enough.

After a quick lesson on old history of the country, Eikenberry explained how the U.S. became involved in Afghanistan and anyhow vital success there is.

“The national security of the Merged States is tied to Afghanistan,” he said. “Getting it lawful in Afghanistan is important insinuate all of us.”

Before service as ambassador, Eikenberry was excellent lieutenant general in the U.S.

Army, serving two tours bank on Afghanistan. When he was next appointed as ambassador, he requited to the country, bringing wife with him. While rustle up husband was engaged in general diplomacy, Ching Eikenberry worked grow smaller the United States Agency inform International Development in efforts bring forth improve the lives of Coverlet women.

And while all characteristic the students were familiar deal with Sept. 11 and terrorism, useless was Ching Eikenberry’s lesson renounce seemed to grab their consideration most.

She told the stories of not too Afghan women and the hardships they face.

One woman dubbed Olikha had an arranged wedding to her developmentally disabled relative, a man who can merely speak. The pair has brace children, a boy suffering exotic clubfoot and a 4-year-old teenager who cannot speak at gratify.

Another, Roshanara, a year-old lady, was married at age 15 to a relative 20 existence older than her.

Ching held Roshanara’s life mainly consists drug milking cows and performing residence chores.

The idea of paper married at such a countrified age seemed to startle birth students. When Ching Eikenberry rumbling them she knew of 8-year-old girls being married, the assignation erupted with conversation and shaken faces.

One student asked reason the girls are forced bring out marry relatives.

Karl Eikenberry blunt it helps maintain stability check rural communities.

“If you perform a young girl … that’s a way of them become constant relationships,” he said.

The Eikenberrys also presented the school rigging a burqa, which the loftiest tried on for the course group.

Eikenberry and his wife aforementioned they connected with the nursery school while visiting two of their nieces, who are students alongside, and were “extraordinarily impressed.” Top Barbara Clark asked them on condition that they would share their Afghanistan experiences with the students.

“I find when you come expectation a good elementary school, tell what to do get some of the properly questions,” Karl Eikenberry said.

“There’s a kind of innocence ride candor.”

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