Ever since the Liberian civil war ended in 2003, reports of how the country is rebuilding have focused on reintegrating "warriors" into society and treating sexual abuse victims, but many women are both. A new documentary, Women of Liberia: Fighting for Peace, focuses on the 30,000 women who made up nearly 1/3 of the armed forces during the war. Yesterday afternoon on NPR, former fighters Jackie Redd and Florence Ballah explained that after being kidnapped and brutally assaulted, they decided that joining the fighting was the only way to defend themselves. "I never joined saying in my heart 'I will be cruel,' or 'I will be wholly armed and be killing other people," said Jackie. "I felt that if I had a gun, nobody would be able to do that to me... I decided to join to protect my life." [NPR]