President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their daughter Malia meet with Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in the head by the Taliban Dated: Oct. 11, 2013. PETE SOUZA — Official White House photo
This girl is smart, fearless and spot on. Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban for fearlessly promoting girls' education in Pakistan, speaks truth to power. She was the youngest person ever nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, but didn't win it this year. Don't count her out in next year or the year after, because even a bullet hasn't cowed her. And she's right. Drone attacks lead to an endless cycle of violence. The one and only hope for population control, world peace, a sustainable economy and a healthy environment is the education of girls and the empowerment of women.
In a statement released after the meeting, Malala said she was honored to meet with Obama, but that she told him she's worried about the effect of U.S. drone strikes. (The White House statement didn't mention that part.)
"I thanked President Obama for the United States' work in supporting education in Pakistan and Afghanistan and for Syrian refugees," she said in the statement. "I also expressed my concerns that drone attacks are fueling terrorism. Innocent victims are killed in these acts, and they lead to resentment among the Pakistani people. If we refocus efforts on education it will make a big impact."
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