AFGHANISTAN'S GENDER EQUALITY AMENDMENTS

Kabul- Afghanistan : Sitting cross-legged on the floor of a sparsely decorated Kabul apartment, -the young bubbly woman told writer Sophia Jones, why she lies to her neighbors.

She tells them she is a nurse when they inquire, as they always do. She leaves the house in civilian clothes and changes into her crisp uniform only when she's on base.

This Afghan woman in her 20s, who asked her name not be used for her safety, is part of a small, brave group of women serving in Afghanistan's security forces. If her neighbor found out, she says, they'd surely kill her.

Sixteen years into a controversial United States-led war in Afghanistan -one billed as part as a mission to liberate Afghan women-

The United States is pouring millions of dollars into bolstering the ranks of women in the police, the army and other branches of the security forces.

The last fiscal year, the United States budgeted an additional $99.5 million to help increase the recruitment of women and support them with suitable facilities, training and equipment.

It's a worthy cause. Research shows that more women in security forces, generally speaking, means more stable societies. And in Afghanistan in particular -a country where women and girls are still routinely killed for-

''Offenses'' as minor as refusing a marriage proposal -the idea of supporting measures that expand gender equality seems like an easy call.

And yet as the young woman's fears demonstrate, bolstering the ranks of women in security forces in a country like Afghanistan is not a simple numbers game

Through its hiring policies, the United States is trying to manufacture gender equality from the top down.

In doing so, it is asking women to serve as the leading edge of change  -a role that comes with great risks -often without providing adequate protection and support.