Iraqi activist taken up by Bush recants her views

[trancepriest]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/...icle308604.ece



Iraqi activist taken up by Bush recants her views
By Andrew Buncombe
Published: 28 August 2005
She was the Iraqi activist who became a symbol of the possibility of a brighter future for Iraq.

Back in February, with blue ink on her finger symbolising the recent Iraqi election in which she had just voted, Safia Taleb al-Souhail was invited to sit with the first lady, Laura Bush, and listen to the President claim in his state of the union address that success was being achieved in Iraq. Her picture went round the world after she turned to hug Janet Norwood, a Texas woman whose son had been killed in Iraq.

But now it appears Ms Souhail, an anti-Saddam activist who became Iraq's ambassador to Egypt, may be having second thoughts about the "success" she celebrated with a two-fingered victory sign.

Having seen the negotiations for the country's constitution fall into disarray and the prospect of a secular constitution severely undermined, she expressed her concerns last week.

"When we came back from exile, we thought we were going to improve rights and the position of women. But look what has happened: we have lost all the gains we made over the past 30 years. It's a big disappointment. Human rights should not be linked to Islamic sharia law at all. They should be listed separately in the constitution."

Although, in practice, many Iraqis end up having recourse to religious authorities or informal tribal law, the idea of a united civil code is central to the modern state, she said.

Ms Souhail, whose actions during Mr Bush's February address were noted by Billmon.Org, a political website, added: "This will lead to creating religious courts. But we should be giving priority to the law."

Mr Bush claimed last week that women's rights were not being threatened by the negotiations in Baghdad.

"There is not, as I understand it, the way the constitution is written, is that women have got rights, inherent rights recognised in the constitution, and that the constitution talks about, you know, not 'the religion' but 'a religion'," he said.

"Twenty-five per cent of the assembly is going to be women, which is embedded in the constitution."

[slamminshaun]

Why don't you rename yourself IraqPriest?

[trancepriest]

Originally Posted by Slammin'

Why don't you rename yourself IraqPriest?

Why don't you go fight for a war that you believe in?

[slamminshaun]

Originally Posted by trancepriest

[quote author=Slammin' Shaun link=board=6;threadid=19497;start=0#msg230178 date=1125356120]
Why don't you rename yourself IraqPriest?

Why don't you go fight for a war that you believe in?
[/quote]

Your mama wears combat boots. :P

[trancepriest]

Originally Posted by Slammin'

Your mama wears combat boots. :P

If anyone of you conservatives on this board... volunteer to join the military... I will shut up and even further more I'll rejoin the Marines and request to be placed in an infantry unit. I would just love for you guys to place your own asses on the line.

[mursa]

Conservatives love war .....as long as they don't fight in them .


..send out recruiters to poor neighborhoods , and problem solved .

[slamminshaun]

Originally Posted by trancepriest

[quote author=Slammin' Shaun link=board=6;threadid=19497;start=0#msg230186 date=1125356681]
Your mama wears combat boots. :P

If anyone of you conservatives on this board... volunteer to join the military... I will shut up and even further more I'll rejoin the Marines and request to be placed in an infantry unit. I would just love for you guys to place your own asses on the line.
[/quote]
Next month, we say goodbye to my younger brother who has a one way ticket to Paris Island with the understanding that he'll be going to Iraq by next year. I'd rather it be my ass on the line if you want the truth...so much for your theory guys.

[trancepriest]

Originally Posted by Slammin'

Next month, we say goodbye to my younger brother who has a one way ticket to Paris Island with the understanding that he'll be going to Iraq by next year. I'd rather it be my ass on the line if you want the truth...so much for your theory guys.

Theory still applies... your ass is not on the line.

[slamminshaun]

Originally Posted by trancepriest

[quote author=Slammin' Shaun link=board=6;threadid=19497;start=0#msg230202 date=1125358521]
Next month, we say goodbye to my younger brother who has a one way ticket to Paris Island with the understanding that he'll be going to Iraq by next year. I'd rather it be my ass on the line if you want the truth...so much for your theory guys.

Theory still applies... your ass is not on the line.
[/quote]

That's ignorant dude. I guarantee its much harder to send your only brother off to Paris Island then it is to go yourself....if something did happen, I get the pleasure of remembering it the rest of my life I guess. Sure, piece of cake man.

[trancepriest]

Originally Posted by Slammin'

That's ignorant dude. I guarantee its much harder to send your only brother off to Paris Island then it is to go yourself....if something did happen, I get the pleasure of remembering it the rest of my life I guess. Sure, piece of cake man.

Why didn't you sign up with him... request to be in the same unit? I mean if it's so hard to watch him go off... you can tag along... you know that right?