Victim of gang rape punished with 200 lashes

Interesting comments at the Democratic debate. Richardson suggested that if the Pakistani people were allowed Democracy they would vote for Liberal values. He said only 15% were "Islamists". He said "Human Rights" trumped American national security no matter who ends up controlling Pak nukes. Obama also would not say security trumped "Human Rights" and suggested Bush had failed somehow in "making" Pakistan more Democratic and anti-Taliban. I wonder what "Human Rights" these two were refering to that they would defend and how and where they get their numbers. Dodd of all people, said this was absurd, the Pakistanis would vote overwhelmingly for a strict Islamist state. Most said they would cut money to the Pakistani army if Musharraf didn't yield. Some suggested giving the money directly to Pakistanis instead of the military. Clinton said security trumps ideology. Not one word from the field about what the ideology we are up against is all about. Not one word about the lack of fundng in Afghanistan. All candidates except Clinton down-played the surge and demanded we leave Iraq and negotiate with Syria and Iran. They talked about the good that money would do here in social programs. Not one word about Israel or the alliances we have in the world. In fact, our trade agreements were called into question. No tears for rape victims or gays abroad. No sense they uderstood what America is facing, except for Hillary with flashes from Dodd and Biden. No passion from Obama on American leadership in terms of the liberty we are defending.

Again, on the issue of that monster Ahmadinejad, the field attacked Clinton's vote on Quds because "it gives the neocons the right to attack Iran." Little mention of anything that might be worth defending aborad as Americans. Richardson even talked about being the world's conscience. Is anything troubling his conscience? Edwards once again said that it was a mistake to give Cheney and Bush any wiggle room with talk of Iranian sanctions. Obama was called out for missing the Quds vote, but made the case the vote enables Bush to stay in Iraq to keep Iran from destabilizing it. They basically defended Quds and Ahmadinejad. Not one comment about opposing violators of human rights, even with sanctions except perhaps Musharraf. Not one word about the crimes against women and minorities. To Hillary's credit, Clinton said designating Quds a terror group was leverage for sanctions and getting Iran to the table. How else do you do it? Send flowers? On the issue of "Human Rights", Edwards was most vocal when defending Muslims here against the Patriot Act he voted for. Many were against profiling in the GWOT, though it isn't in the Patriot Act.

Edwards and Obama got booed going after Hillary. Imagine how hard it would be for anyone here winning over the crowd while holding the feelings you have after reading Simon's post and all we have read about Iraq, Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Chavez, Putin and China. Obama stumbled on the driver license question. Edwards was strident and foolish. I may be wrong, but I do believe she is far more centrist than she pretends. I can understand her difficult position. After tonight, no one else I think would be a very good Democratic President. No one else I believe feels the outrage expressed here at times about the ideology raging in the world. Maybe I am wrong, but she was the only figure tonight that looked Presidential.

Sorry for taking the thread in this digression, but without a President with passion and conviction, we are certain to stumble more. Hillary got Spitzer to drop the driver license issue. Obama, like I mentioned a few days ago has and had tonight, no answer. She knew that all along. She is a tough cookie.

It also defended the doubling of the sentence against her, insisting she was an "adulteress."

The victim's husband denied that, stepping forward to defend his wife by calling into a Lebanese television program last week while it aired a debate on the case....

"I feel that in this catastrophe she exercised bad judgment by meeting this man, but how can you or anyone say she committed adultery?" he said and described the effect of the rape on the woman, including months where she didn't speak or eat and was physically ill.

What a great guy. Just makes it worse that the Saudi government has to compound his problems, too - like anyone needs any more stress after his new bride is brutalised. As I've said many times, gender equality is good for everyone.