For The First Time, An Afghan First Lady Steps Into The Spotlight - Morning Edition

Afghanistan was a different world when Rula Ghani moved there from Lebanon as a newlywed in the 1970s: untouched by war, its small middle class open to the wider world.

She had met her husband Ashraf while studying political science at the American University in Beirut. He was an Afghan Muslim; she, a Lebanese Christian.

The would go on to make a life together — first in Afghanistan, then in America — where she got a degree from Columbia University and became an American citizen, and he taught at Johns Hopkins before moving on to the World Bank.

After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Ghanis returned to Afghanistan. And last year, Ashraf Ghani was elected president of Afghanistan.

In a country where women don't have much of a presence in officialdom — much less a voice — Rula Ghani is the first first lady to play a prominent role.

In an interview at the Afghanistan Embassy in Washington, D.C., with Morning Edition host Renee Montagne, Ghani discusses the challenges facing Afghanistan, her opinion on what the country's most vulnerable populations need, and what she would like Americans to know about Afghanistan.

On what she wants Americans to understand about Afghanistan  --  Afghans are not begging, are not coming with their begging bowl, give us, give us. But they need support. And this is probably what Americans can do is ... show their support, especially to the Afghan women, but also to all the population. This is a very important time in the history of Afghanistan. We could be getting to a turning point where security might be established, economy might get much more flourishing and people might eventually get a much better life. Don't leave us right now. Be there. Help us, but don't pity us. We are strong, we are a very determined people. And we're going to try and make it.  Read More at An Afghan First Lady Steps Into The Spotlight

For The First Time, An Afghan First Lady Steps Into The Spotlight

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