(Karen) Hughes Defends Women's Status in Iraq

[sabra]

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-turkey-us,0,2842702.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

Hughes Defends Women's Status in Iraq


ANKARA, Turkey -- The United States' new public relations chief, Karen Hughes, responded to Turkish criticism over the Iraq war by telling women's rights advocates Wednesday that Iraqi women were being treated better now than they were under Saddam Hussein.

Hughes visited Turkey during her final stop on a Mideast mission aimed at improving America's image in the Muslim world. But the criticism she faced while visiting a women's group showed how difficult her task will be.

Turks have been increasingly critical of U.S. policy, with a majority saying the Iraq war has made the world a more dangerous place. In a June poll by the Pew Global Attitudes Project, only 17 percent of Turks said they supported the U.S. war on terrorism.

...

Fatma Nevin Vargun, a Kurdish women's rights activist said, "I am ashamed that the 21st century is the century of war."
She called on the United States to stop wars "that lead to poverty," and criticized the arrest Monday of peace activist Cindy Sheehan during a rally in front of the White House.

[central scrutinizer]

1. those pesky facts

Once again, there is no evidence to back up her assertions, in fact, the reverse is true, and the status of women will only get worse once Sharia law is installed.

[Matariki]

2. what a LIAR

these bush admin twerps just say whatever suits them and expect it to be believed. what insanity.

"Karen Hughes, responded to Turkish criticism over the Iraq war by telling women's rights advocates Wednesday that Iraqi women were being treated better now than they were under Saddam Hussein."

[formerrepuke]

3. And how are they being treated in Saudi Arabia?. Oh, never mind..they're

our 'allies.'

[ElectroPrincess]

4. Hasn't this been "beat to death" yesterday? Dupe?

On Edit: My bad. That shrew is still running her mouth. It never ends. ;)

[rodeodance]

6. "Iraqi women were being treated better now than they were under Saddam"

[ElectroPrincess]

8. Got to hand it to BushCo. for re-writing recent history? n/t

[Javaman]

27. I find it interesting that during Saddam's time, women actively

participated in gov't, even encouraged. And now the iraqi "administration" has to put an amendment in the "constitution" to make sure women will still have a voice in gov't. So a society that had once looked upon women more or less as equals (depends on the part of the country you were in) now requires a law, otherwise women will loose that measure of equality.

Secular dictator replaced by a religious fundie, oh yeah, reeeeal progress. from the frying pan into the fire.

colossal racist failure*.

[ChowChowChow]

5. Guess ol KAKA Karen was a bust LMAO

That old drunkin women is the LAST person to give out FACTS...she is an abomination!

[rodeodance]

7. this was posted earlier on DU--women, SA and Karen and driving cars.

Tue Sep-27-05 11:45 PM
Original message
NYT: Saudi women depart from the script (refute Hughes)


Facing a restless college audience of nearly 500 Saudi women - teachers, students and professionals, but all covered in black from head to foot - Karen Hughes tentatively broached the topic of equal rights on Tuesday, expressing hope that one day "women will be able to fully participate in society."

But the response to the Bush administration's top "public diplomacy" envoy on her first trip to the Middle East seemed to take her aback, as several listeners complained vehemently that just because they were not allowed to vote or drive did not mean they were unfairly treated or imprisoned in their homes.

"We're not in any way barred from talking to the other sex," said Dr. Nada Jambi, a public health professor. "It's not an absolute wall."

Another charged that just as Saudi men were viewed unfairly as terrorists, Saudi women were seen unfairly as victims. "The general image of the Arab women is that she isn't happy," she said. "Well, we're all pretty happy." The room resounded with applause.

(snip)

"There is more male chauvinism in my profession in Europe and America than in my country," said Dr. Siddiqa Kamal, an obstetrician and gynecologist who runs her own hospital. "I don't want to drive a car. I worked hard for my medical degree. Why do I need a driver's license?"

more…
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/27/news/diplo.php#

[ChowChowChow]

9. Thanks for that!

[madrchsod]

10. really folks this is totally insane

no ne believes a word this woman says. did karl actually send her out knowing that no one in the world believes anything this thing says? or does he think that this thing`s mystery tour will succeed in winning the hearts and minds in the muslim world? i could be wrong but maybe i`m the one living in the world of the other internets

[Javaman]

28. She is the voice from the bubble...

I had never once believe this was going to be an actual "listening" tour, moron* and his room full of dopes never listen to anyone.

So here comes asshat hughes, "listening" to them but telling them they need to drive. Do you think she works for the automobile lobby???

This whole sham is the equivelent of hitler telling the Jews he wants to know their concerns.

once people wake up to the fact that moron* and gaggle of goons doesn't give a flying fuck about anyone but themselves, then things will really change.

colossal racist failure*.

[54anickel]

11. US academics urge Americans to listen to al-Qaeda

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=14645

snip>

"Since the attacks on New York and Washington, Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri have delivered, respectively, 18 and 15 messages via audio or videotape making a three-part case: The United States must end its military presence in the Middle East, its uncritical political support and military aid of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, and its support of corrupt and coercive regimes in the Arab and Muslim world," wrote Mohamedou in the Boston Globe under the headline "Time to talk to Al Qaeda?"


He said that "developing a strategy for the next phase of the global response to Al Qaeda requires understanding the enemy".


Mohamedou cited the analysis of the former head of the "bin Laden unit" at the CIA, Michael Scheuer, who is now a fierce critic of the Bush administration and its "War on Terror" policy.

During a recent speech at the US Army War College, Scheuer said that both militant and non-militant Muslims hated the United States "for what we do in the Islamic world, not for our democratic beliefs and civil liberties".

more...

[xxqqqzme]

12. whoopsie - guess karen was counting

on Turkish wimmin being as clueless as rethug wimmin.

[cap]

13. just look at pictures: Saddam: no burka; CPA: burka

family law changing.

[bemildred]

14. Turkish Women Blast Karen Hughes With Iraq War Criticism

ISTANBUL, Sept. 28 -- A group of Turkish female activists confronted Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes Wednesday with heated complaints about the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, turning a session designed to highlight the empowering of women into a raw display of the anger at U.S. policy in the region.

"This war is really, really bringing your positive efforts to the level of zero," said Hidayet Sefkatli Tuksal, an activist with the Capital City Women's Forum. She said it was difficult to talk about cooperation between women in the United States and Turkey as long as Iraq was under occupation.

Hughes, a longtime confidant of President Bush tasked with burnishing the U.S. image overseas, has generally met with polite audiences -- many of whom received U.S. funding or consisted of former exchange students -- during a tour of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey this week.

---

"War makes the rights of women completely erased and poverty comes after war -- and women pay the price," said Fatma Nevin Vargun, a Kurdish women's rights activist. Vargun denounced the arrest of Cindy Sheehan, the activist mother of a soldier killed in Iraq, in front of the White House Monday at an antiwar protest.

WaPo

[Helga Scow Stern]

15. Nominated! I am so glad they know about Cindy too. And in WaPo!

[Just Me]

16. Karen Hughes is a disconnected, ignorant, American idiot.

I'm glad she was confronted. She needs a LOT of humility delivered her way.

[DinahMoeHum]

17. Problem is, Hughes thinks this is all merely an image problem. . .

like ineffective marketing of a product. It ain't working for her and Bush because the problem is with the product itself.

:evilfrown:

[tainowarrior]

18. what's the point

of having meetings with pre-selected groups in Egypt, Turkey, and other places in the Mid East? Yeah, it will look good at home, but it won't do anything substantial to improve our image. Why waste the money?

Reality doesn't change because one shields themselves from it. Sooner or later, the administration will have to face the consequence of that reality (and is currently with the insurgency).

[tanyev]

19. Do they tar, feather and ride people out on a rail in the Middle East?

If they do, Karen needs to be more careful. And some intrepid photographer needs to stay really close to her.

[The_Casual_Observer]

20. Hughes, do us a favor and visit baghdad in a big new shiny black SUV.

[tainowarrior]

21. if by better

she means now they are now forced to wear long, skin-covering clothes, and are being expelled from schools by Islamic morality police in Shiite areas, then yeah, I guess they have it better. /sarcasm.

[sabra]

22. what's wrong with that?

:sarcasme:

btw, Welcome to DU!

[tainowarrior]

23. before I saw the text

I thought you were being serious :)

[WhiteTara]

24. It's great that these women didn't let her

get away with her lies and tripe. Thank the Goddess for strong women!

[cap]

25. Hillary managed to talk about equal rights around the world

without getting other women insulted.

[GOPAgainstGW]

26. I thought US Troops shot KH Thinking She Was A Journalist-eom