Official Sweettalker Hughes finds herself arguing with women of Islam

[BurtWorm]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/29/international/europe/29hughes.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1127967267-i0tO/NjvOIpvfvVXmzCP4Q&pagewanted=print

Turkish Women, Too, Have Words With U.S. Envoy (on Iraq War)

By STEVEN R. WEISMAN

ISTANBUL, Sept. 28 - Under Secretary of State Karen P. Hughes, seeking common ground with leading women's rights advocates in Turkey, was confronted instead on Wednesday with anguished denunciations of the war in Iraq and what the women said were American efforts to export democracy by force.

It was the second day in a row that Ms. Hughes found herself at odds with groups of women on her "public diplomacy" tour, aimed at improving the American image in the Middle East. On Tuesday, she told Saudi Arabian women she would support efforts to raise their status but was taken aback when some of them responded that Americans misunderstand their embrace of traditions.

...


"You are very angry with Turkey, I know," said Hidayet Tuskal, a director of the Capital City Women's Platform, referring to what she characterized as United States reaction to opposition in Turkey to the Iraq war, which she said was a feminist issue because women and children were dying daily. "I'm feeling myself wounded," Ms. Tuskal added. "I'm feeling myself insulted here."

...


With her brow furrowed, Ms. Hughes replied: "I can appreciate your concern about war. No one likes war." She went on to say that "my friend President Bush" did all he could to avoid a war in Iraq, but then asserted about Iraq: "It is impossible to say that the rights of women were better under Saddam Hussein than they are today." She said that women had been tortured, raped and killed under the leadership ousted by American troops....

[Child_Of_Isis]

1. Another one bites the dust. eom.

[Melodybe]

2. Burn in hell Karen!

[opihimoimoi]

3. Karen should go home and take care of kids....

[Seabiscuit]

11. Kids are MUCH better off with Karen on the other side of the world being

mocked and humiliated.

[cynatnite]

4. How long will it take her to resign?

Should we start a pool?

[Sydnie]

5. These are not American "security moms" Karen - no tupperware or

avon parties for them.

What the hell is she doing over there anyway? Wasn't that supposed to be Laura's job, oh say, two years ago? To be the bridge for womens rights over there? I can see she had as much commitment to that as she did her "gang" program.

Karen ... you are making things much worse. Just go home.

[TomInTib]

13. Excellent point - did she even last a week on the "gang" issue?

[Sydnie]

21. She was a one photo-op woman

I only remember one photo of her sitting near a "black boy" in a day care center somewhere.

I would love to see her meeting with the kids that visit their parents in prision. Let's see if they would sing Zipadeedoda with her.

[EFerrari]

6. How long will this ditz be representng our nation?

Bets?

Sorry, Karen, our rape rooms are just as good as his.

[cry baby]

7. I thought her job on this trip was to LISTEN! She should shut up!

[rodeodance]

12. so much for diplomacy!

[jonnyblitz]

8. "no one likes war" she says. right. nt

[TomInTib]

9. and this is the "Listening Tour"? n/t

[The_Casual_Observer]

10. Who's smart idea was it to send this political hack woman

to the ME anyway? Do they think that her magical powers will change thousands of years of treating women as second class citizens? If anything, this trip will probably be considered a cultural insult.

[BurtWorm]

16. Rove

may have liked the idea of sending her to the ME. ;)

[Erika]

14. She's been a disaster.

as is her president.

[Strelnikov_]

15. The New 'Ugly American'

And it was not a personal insult.

http://www.wwnorton.com/catalog/fall98/uglyamerican.htm

First published in 1958, The Ugly American became a runaway national bestseller for its slashing exposé of American arrogance, incompetence, and corruption in Southeast Asia. Based on fact, the book's eye-opening stories and sketches drew a devastating picture of how the United States was losing the struggle with Communism in Asia. Combining gripping storytelling with an urgent call to action, the book prompted President Eisenhower to launch a study of our military aid program that led the way to much-needed reform.

[rodeodance]

17. "With her brow furrowed, Ms. Hughes replied:" my my!!

[rodeodance]

20. "War is not necessary for peace," this was told to Hughes!! grand!

from WP article
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/28/AR2005092801429_pf.html

......
Hughes, looking increasingly pained, defended the decision to invade Iraq as a difficult and wrenching moment for President Bush, but necessary to protect America.

"You're concerned about war, and no one likes war," she said. But, she said, "to preserve the peace sometimes my country believes war is necessary." She also asserted that women are faring much better in Iraq than under the rule of deposed president Saddam Hussein.

"You're concerned about war, and no one likes war," she said. But, she said, "to preserve the peace sometimes my country believes war is necessary." She also asserted that women are faring much better in Iraq than under the rule of deposed president Saddam Hussein.

"War is not necessary for peace," shot back Feray Salman, a human rights advocate. She said countries should not try to impose democracy through war, adding that "we can never, ever export democracy and freedom from one country to another."

[BurtWorm]

23. "This war is really...bringing your positive efforts to the level of zero"

Wow! That article has great quotes in it!

:toast:

[Chipper Chat]

26. I was thinking the same thing.

Although I cant remember any "uglyamerican" females in the book except the woman who seduced Captain Boning. But Hughes does remind me a little of the "Joe Bing" character.
Everyone should read this book. I think the paperback is still in print. Even though it was written in the 50s, it has great relevance today in regard to how we are losing the goodwill and trust of America.

[Oversea Visitor]

18. Ahhh

damn impossible to say that the rights of women were better under Saddam. Hmmm you talking to the locals and treating thems like fools.

Aaaargh dont US has someone with more brains doing this stuff?

[NYC]

28. Bush deliberately chooses offensive people.

Like Bolton in the U.N.

[BurtWorm]

29. He only knows offensive people.

That's his circle.

[NYC]

30. That's true.

Hard to choose someone inoffensive when everyone you know is offensive.

[Oversea Visitor]

32. Ehhh

Why does he hates US and Good Americans?

[NYC]

33. Because he sees us as a piggy bank,

and he intends to empty us.

[Chipper Chat]

19. Karen's next good-will missions will be to:

1) Mexico - where she will try to convince Mexican wives to stop feeding their husbands tacos because American roast beef would be healthier.
2) Samoa - where she will press Samoan men to stop wearing "skirts" because even though they may be comfortable, they give American territories a prissy image.
3) Iran - where she will lecture students on the ill-will taking hostages can cause, and that Iranian girls are so pretty they just need to quicky find a husband, settle down, get married, and produce kids who will support democracy.

Karen - please come home and just become a press agent for KellyAnn Conway, Phyllis Schlafly, or Ann Coulter!!

[rodeodance]

22. the goal WAS to improve our image--Hughes just assumes she can

lecture to them what they should want.

[dooner]

24. She earned this job..

Karen Hughes was so "brilliant" at spinning the truth for Americans, she thought she'd try it out on the rest of the world!

Fortunately, the rest of the world can see right through her hollow act.
Must be rather sobering for her.

I wonder if these Bushco robots will ever realize or admit how much damage they have done to our country.

[opihimoimoi]

27. Nope, the BushBots use Denial/Delusion to confront Reality

They believe what THEY WANT TO BELIEVE....

[The_Casual_Observer]

25. Hughes was horribly outclassed by those women.

And she is clueless about Islamic culture and the concerns of Islamic women. This is a PR disaster!

[NYC]

31. That this is a PR disaster reminds me.

Don't they always do the opposite of what they say?

...her "public diplomacy" tour, aimed at improving the American image in the Middle East...

She is doing the opposite.