I agree with Alexis. I have traveled extensively around the world and I've learned Americans are some of the most intolerant and disrespectful people on earth. Americans, in my opinion, are egotistical in their views. If they don't like it or can't understand it, they think it must be wrong. I've yet to see a convincing argument against Child Brides on this series of comments. Most people basically say, "it's wrong" but they can't prove why it is wrong. This means their opinion is culturally influenced and is not objective. However, since Americans believe they are always right, they think their thinking must be right, which is true in a way since that is the opinion that prevails in the US and countries with a similar culture. However, what is socially unacceptable in the US DOES NOT mean it should also be unacceptable in other countries. Again, I have traveled extensively to countries that are very different to the US (I have also lived in the US). For this reason, I believe I can see this issue more objectively and I believe most of the people here are viewing the world with "Anerican" eyes rather than trying to understand the simple life of the Middle East, their values, their religion, etc. From a biological standpoint, women can have sex and bear children at very young ages. I'm talking about nature here. Now, we're not animals, we're human, so we have laws, culture and religion that may influence the acceptable age to marry, have sex and bear children. Now, pay attention, NOT ALL COUNTRIES HAVE THE SAME LAWS, CULTURE and RELIGION!! So, we have to RESPECT other beliefs even if they look wrong to us. I bet that if you ask the girl 10 years from now what she thinks about her marriage she might say she loves the man or he hates him, or something in between but that is the same answer you'd get from an American wife. Of course, a different set of laws, culture and religion allow an American wife to divorce because Americans value the right to divorce but what do Afghan women think about divorce?? Maybe it's immoral to them so they don't even think about it. Maybe it's illegal. It's a matter of values and that's the point where Americans can't seem to understand that values differ from one part of the world to another. Also, you tend to see the worst scenario and without even having met the older husband that is marrying the Afghan girl. What if he's a good man?? I would prefer my daughter to marry an older man if he's a good honest and respectful man rather than having my daughter marry an imature boy of her age that does drugs, is dishonest, has been to prison and is a gang member that loves beating women. You have to analyze the specific case and also understand the culture, laws,traditions, values, etc. For the guy that suggested the girl should study and have a profession, gimme a break..lol...we're talking about afghnistan here, not New York City, pal...Also, it's probably RURAL afghanistan so why would she need a career in that environment?? I have been to Mennonite communities where they only went to elementary school and that's really all the education they considered enough for their lives. Not everyone needs a college education in certain countries. It's also a matter of values. You go to college for what?? To earn more money, to be a successful professional, to be able to drive a brand new mercedes, etc. Well, not everyone in the world shares those values, did you know?? I personally don't. That's why I have traveled extensively and lived a much simpler life without having to worry about making money, studying, buying and maintaining a car, etc. For me (and for many others I've met), the most valued things are enjoying the love of my wife and children, having a few true friends and spending the weekend at a cheap bar. I have no interest in being a successful Professional working for Bill Gates at Microsoft. I have no interest in being rich in monetary terms. I can live without a car riding the public bus or just walking. I have a very different set of values than most Americans. Most Americans value MONEY and MATERIAL things too much in comparison with me, even though everyone will deny it but it's true and it's acceptable since you can't live without money in the US. You also do need an education, a good job and a brand new car so that your neighbors don't think you're a failure, etc. Well, I have lived in places where most people don't have a car so it's not important to have one, most people don't have a college education and it's also not important. I have lived in places where other things are more important than those things that are important in the US. Well, you get the point (hopefully). By the way, I'm married to an indigenous woman from South America and I'm 25 years older than her. We live in South America and our marriage was legal by indian customs and also by the laws of the country in which I live. She's an adult now but I married her when she was not though I will not reveal her age because I don't want to offend people here. She was very young when I married her and our marriage was NOT arranged. This means she married me because she fell in love with me. Many people here will say she marry me for the money but I don't really have much money by South American standards so it's not because of that. Do you why she married me?? VALUESSSSSS , yeah, she's got a different set of values than most American girls have and I happened to be one of the few men that could have won her heart in her indian village, not becuase of money, not because of looks, but because of being a nice guy that was willing to respect her and treat her like a princess for the rest of our lives and that, where she is from, is worth a MILLION DOLLARS so she got lucky...lol...and I was also very lucky for marrying a good person.