Try To Get Your Head Around This

Our old buddy, Trudy Rubin is at it again. She twists herself into a pretzel trying to explain how democracy in the Arab world is bad for women:

As the democracy debate intensifies in the Middle East, many Arab women are asking this question: Will democratic elections mean that our freedom will be curtailed?

If this concern seems strange, consider the story of Salama al-Khafaji, a courageous dental surgeon who risked her life to run in Iraqi elections. Her 17-year-old son was shot dead in 2003 during an attempt by insurgents to kill her, but she continued her work as a member of Iraq's first interim governing council. A motorcyclist toting a machine gun nearly assassinated her during the election run-up in January.

Khafaji is a symbol of Iraqi bravery, but she also is a symbol of Shiite piety, who wears an enveloping black abaya that resembles a Catholic nun's habit, circa 1950. She ran on the victorious Shiite list endorsed by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

And she wants to replace civil laws on "family status" that affect women - laws on marriage, divorce, custody and inheritance - with Islamic laws that would roll back many rights of women.

Welcome to the new Iraq, where free and fair elections may have a negative impact on women. U.S. pressure ensured that every third seat in the Iraqi assembly was set aside for a woman. But the bulk of female candidates were selected by Shiite religious parties that believe women should be subject to religious law.

I can now say I've seen it all with regards to opposing the invasion of Iraq. I get her point that society was more secular during Saddam's reign and women were not forced to wear abaya's, however they were subject to the Baath party sponsored rape and murder that apparently were commonplace.

Does Trudy Rubin truly think that Iraq was better as an authoritarian regime led by Saddam and his evil offspring? She does not even mention the way life was under those animals.