In an Oct. 11 meeting at the White House, Malala Yousafzai, second from right, did not shy away from telling President Barack Obama what she thinks about U.S. drone strikes killing fellow Pakistanis in her country. The 16-year-old was shot in the head by the Taliban in Pakistan last year for defending the right of girls to go to school.

“I also expressed my concerns that drone attacks are fueling terrorism,” said Yousafzai in a statement after the encounter. “Innocent victims are killed in these acts, and they lead to resentment among the Pakistani people.”

Seated on couch are First Lady Michelle Obama and daughter Malia. The White House has not reported Obama’s response to Yousafzai.

“They thought that the bullet would silence us but they failed,” Yousafzai said during a CNN interview with Christiane Amanpour broadcast Oct. 13. “The terrorists thought that they would change my aims and stop my ambitions but nothing changed in my life except this. Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, fervor and courage were born.”

— SETH GALINSKY  
 
 
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