Rich Lowry says Iraqi women better off with Uday and Qusay gone.

[madfloridian]

FOX apparently had a Dean-bashing session according to Newshounds, who watch FOX so you don't have to. I suspected that Howard Dean would be absolutely attacked for saying that Bush did not have the credibility or capability of attacking Iran. I have not seen too much criticism of that. Last night I posted one weird attack on him for saying women would be worse off.

They are really upset with him, especially on FOX, because he said women were in danger of losing their rights there now. It made them furious. Go figure. It is like a threat to them, more so than thinking their leader doesn't have credibility.

Newshounds watching Fox bash Dean for speaking up for Iraqi women

Fox Spin Point #422: Bash Howard Dean, Even When He Speaks the Truth

Yesterday (8/15) on Dayside, guest-host Mike Jerrick conducted a short segment discussing a comment made by Howard Dean on the rights of Iraqi women with regular guests Rich Lowery and Ellis Henican.

Mike began: "Some folks questioning progress in Iraq, on CBS? Face the Nation, DNC chairman Howard Dean had this to say:

Dean: "It looks like today, and this could change, it looks like today women could be worse off in Iraq then they were when Sadaam Hussein was president of Iraq."

MJ: "How about that comment? Let's start with you Rich. Whoa! What a comment! Just respond to it!?

RL: "It's pretty outrageous, I mean, no one had rights in Sadaam Hussein's government. It was a totalitarian state, and women in Baghdad had to fear one of Sadaam's sons, Uday or Qusay, snatching them off the street and raping them. We are going to end up with something better than Saddam Hussein's Iraq. The problem is, Democrats can't seem to get their mind around that."

Newshounds refers to a BBC article about the Iraqi women being greatly concerned.

Iraqi women fear for their rights.
BBC: Iraqi women fear for their rights.

Women's groups in Iraq are stepping up a campaign to try to ensure that the country's constitution does not restrict their rights. Iraqi women have more rights than most in the region.

With the approach of the 15 August deadline for completing the new constitution, the role of women in society has become a political battlefield. It pits secular Iraqis against newly powerful religious parties who want a greater role for Islam written into the document.

"There's very little time left," says Maysoon al-Damluji, president of the Iraqi Independent Women's Group. "I'm not sure we'll succeed. But we have to keep fighting."

Secular women in Iraq have been through a difficult two years, with relentless violence keeping more and more women indoors and many feeling growing pressure to wear the veil.

"Things have got worse even since last year," says Rafif, a 28-year old bank auditor attending a recent conference on women and the constitution. "I'm now afraid to drive my car. I've changed where I study and work so that I can be nearer to home. But we women have got to get out of the house if we're going to change things."

Newshounds ends with pointing out the idiocy of Rich Lowry's comments:

"And all Rich Lowery could come up with was Dean is nuts, and hey! At least they aren't being raped?"


Slovenian President Janez Drnovsek (R) speaks with Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean (L) of the U.S. during his one day long visit to castle Brdo in Slovenia August 16, 2005. REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic

[Roland99]

1. Except in the south of Iraq where they're living under Taliban-like rule.

[central scrutinizer]

2. It's all about low expectations with these guys

Get out the shovels, its time to lower the bar again.

[kodi]

3. how come Rich Lowry is not in the Armed Forces?

is he too important?

[madfloridian]

4. He probably would rather thinking intellectually about it.

Some young Republican said that recently, but I forgot the exact words. :silly:

[safi0]

11. This guy Lowry

Chickened out of fighting Al Franken, and with all due respect to Al because I do love him, Lowry's about 20 years younger and from the looks of it in much better shape. There's no way he'd go into the military

[havocmom]

5. And now women in Iraq have reasons to fear the US

Not much improvement there. Men, women, children captured, tortured and raped. How is that better than the 'bad ol days'? Bastards. They are fucking bastards to try and argue that the women are better off now.

How many tens of thousands dead?
How many torn to shreds?
How many tortured and raped?

How the hell is that an improvement? Now instead of two rotten perverts, they have to worry about the most powerful nation on the planet! Some fucking improvement! The neocons can wrap their heads around that.

[Canuckistanian]

6. Oh, yes, the Shi'ite mullahs are reknowned feminists

It's a brand new day for women in Iraq!

[BootinUp]

7. Maybe Rich meant

the dead ones don't have to worry. :eyes:

[Demeter]

8. Imagine How Much Better It Will Be With GWBush Gone!

and not just for Iraqi women, but for women, children and men the world over, for generations present and to come....

[Autonomy]

9. Dean's comment is not remotely far-fetched

it's a well-known fact. Amnesty Intenational as well as the MSM have reported on the epidemic of rapes

http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=9E865CC4FD535B2880256F73005E4047

the Christian Science Monitor recently reported on the resurgence of the previously banned practice of female genital mutilation

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0810/p06s01-woiq.html

and oppressive Sharia law will "likely (be the) basis for Iraqi law" if they should ever agree on a constitution

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/07/30/islam_to_be_basis_for_iraq_constitution/.

It's a well-known fact that womens' rights and place in Iraqi society has and will continue to take a nose dive as a result of the invasion by the US, right-wing indignation not withstanding.

Getting rid of Udie and Queasy was not a fair trade for women. Howard Dean was right, and it was not a controversial statement on his part.

edit: couple typos fixed

[madfloridian]

13. And the odd part..

Is that few on the right have attacked him for his far more outspoken statements that the president has no credibility here or abroad. Or that we don't have the capability to follow through on threats...that this president should not do it because he can't follow through.

I guess they must realize Bush has no credibility anymore, and they must realize what he has done to this country.

They really only got mad when he mentioned women losing their rights. Go figure out the right, I can't. :shrug:

[liberalitch]

10. Let's see two sociopathic rapists or a nation full of oppressive oligarchs

What SHOULD i choose?

[fujiyama]

12. Maybe Rich doesn't understand

that Uday and Qusay were just two people and while they certainly were psychotic mysoginstic ass holes, the ensuing chaos that has prevailed during te occupation (basically no rule of law) has led to an increase in the number of rapes.

Of course, this says nothing of a possible theocratic government that will likely come into power and the Sharia law that is likely to be imposed.

[lukasahero]

14. That's what I was thinking - 2 rapists or too many to count?

Neither is good but really, which is worse? Not to mention the whole "if her brother commits adultery, she gets gang raped" as law thingie. But I guess that's ok because it'd be within the law, right? :grr:

[Eloriel]

15. And the women of the world would be better off without Lowry!!!

The rightwing have tried to make it seem like women are or will be FREER now than they were under Saddam Hussein. It's just not true. As a secular nation, Iraq offered women unrivaled rights in the M.E. -- they were well educated, could have whatever careers they wanted, did not have to weear burkas, had freedom of movement, etc. Even Jordan was not as progressive for women, and they had an American Queen and a much more "enlightened" rulership than Saddam.

I just can't imagine how the women of Iraq will come out as well, let alone BETTER than under Saddam. I just can't.