Tuesday, June 24, 2003
By Wendy McElroy
American-born Sarah Saga (search) and her two Saudi-born children spent last week in the sanctuary of the U.S Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
So far, the White House has not responded to swelling calls to "Free Sarah!" by a military rescue, if necessary. There are good reasons for the official silence. One of them: American foreign policy should not be flexed in what ultimately might be revealed to be a child custody dispute.
The conflict arises from Saga's wish to return to America with her children, aged three and five. The Saudis agree to her departure but insist that the children are Saudi and must remain, presumably in the custody of their father.
(snip)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,90212,00.html http://www.ifeminists.net/introduction/editorials/2003/0624.html (snip)
For months, WND has led a campaign to publicize the plight of American women reportedly held against their will in Saudi Arabia. The crusade is headed by Pat Roush, author of "At Any Price: How America Betrayed my Kidnapped Daughters for Saudi Oil." Roush claims "there are hundreds, if not thousands of American women and children being held inside Saudi Arabia - tortured, terrified, threatened and unable to come home to America." They are unable to leave because such travel requires the consent of a husband and/or father.
(snip)