Sarah Chayes and "The Punishment of Virtue"

When Sarah Chayes entered Afghanistan, she was a National Public Radio reporter on assignment.

Monday, September 11 @ 6:30PM

Discussion moderated by Robin Young; presented in collaboration with the WAND Education Fund.

As Chayes' understanding of the country and the U.S. occupation grew, she was drawn more deeply into the unfolding drama to rebuild a broken nation not just as a reporter, but as an aide and a witness. Chayes quickly dedicated herself to turning the country's fortunes around by accepting a job running as Field Director of Afghans for Civil Society, a non-governmental aid organization founded by Qayum Karzai, brother of President Hamid Karzai.

The Taliban regime has been driven from power, but Afghanistan and the international community now face new problems: a devastated economy, the return of millions of refugees, drug trafficking, and a plague of corruption and violence. In addition, the fledgling government is struggling to unify and rebuild their nation and to define its future. Drawing on unparalleled access to the president's family, tribal leaders in the former Taliban heartland, Kandahar, U.S. military and diplomatic brass, and leading figures in local government, Chayes offers a unique view of Afghanistan's modern history and the challenges ahead.