Sunday, August 21, 2005

Duh Roundup (Issue No. 8215): The fading purple finger moment

FOX News Sunday
CHRIS WALLACE: Senator, let me ask you about the constitution, because there have been some reports from some Kurds and from some Sunnis that the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Khalilzad, in his zeal to try to get a deal, has, in fact, backed the Shiite demands that Islam play a greater role.

And there is some concern that this might, in fact, hurt the rights of women, might increase the play of Islam in the government. What do you think about that?

SEN LINDSAY GRAHAM: Well, this ambassador is a very talented man. He helped navigate Afghanistan through this problem. Having an Islamic statement in a constitution that is an Islamic nation doesn't mean that women are going to be repressed. It could mean that.
***

CNN Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer
BLITZER: Will women be able to walk freely throughout all of Iraq without a veil?

LAITH KUBBA, ADVISER TO IRAQI PRIME MINISTER: Absolutely. There is no question about restricting a woman's liberties and freedom.

The only area that was sensitive and, quite frankly, it might raise some anxiety, is would the families be governed by laws of their choice, or by somebody else's choice? I think that's the only area.
***

Meet the Press
REUEL MARC GERECHT, FORMER CIA MIDDLE EAST SPECIALIST: Actually, I'm not terribly worried about this. I mean, one hopes that the Iraqis protect women's social rights as much as possible. It certainly seems clear that in protecting the political rights, there's no discussion of women not having the right to vote. I think it's important to remember that in the year 1900, for example, in the United States, it was a democracy then. In 1900, women did not have the right to vote. If Iraqis could develop a democracy that resembled America in the 1900s, I think we'd all be thrilled. I mean, women's social rights are not critical to the evolution of democracy.
***

SEN LINDSAY GRAHAM: The purple finger moment was a high moment for all of us.

UPDATE:"So what else is Reuel Marc Gerecht, other than a man who obviously never, ever wants to get laid ever again."

I thought it (honest) but he said it: Go read the rest of Driftglass' ooomphatic takedown of the Sunday morning twits.

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