For more information:
McSally objected to U.S. Central Command’s policy requiring servicewomen deployed to Saudi Arabia to wear the abaya while shopping OFF BASE, OFF BASE at the local suk.
However well-intentioned, said Lt. Col. Mary McSally, this policy violated her rights as a Christian and discriminated against women. That was nonsense.
It had not occurred to Col. McSally that Saudi Arabia is not the United States. That Saudi Arabia has no constitution or Bill of Rights. That Saudi Arabia is a theocracy in which Islamic law is the only law. And, moreover, we do not have a SOFA between Saudi and the US. . .that is a critically important fact. We were not exempt from local laws when OFF BASE.
Absent a SOFA, Saudi Arabia has the right to insist that its cultural, legal and religious practices be, not respected but not spit upon either (it’s their country, after all).
Col. McSally had a right to be uncovered ON BASE, but she has no right to insist that Saudi Arabia accommodate this practice OFF BASE. She understood this. She knew this but yet SHE decided to dictate to Saudi what females can wear.
This is not surprising when you understated she was promoted early (”I’m special”) and a female (”I’m special”) and flying a fighter (”I’m special”). Her arrogance was legion among us that served at the same time as she did. Especially in the A-10 community.
Everything was about her, not the mission, not the bond that brought warriors together, and certainly not service before self.
She objected to the rules and had options:
1) She could have taken her concern up the chain of command and hoped DoD and State could work something out with the Saudi’s
2) She could have gone direct to the IG to ensure a fair hearing of her objections, conducted completely outside the chain of command
3) Contacted her congressman and initiated a “congressional” for action.
She elected to act unilaterally and instead of acting irresponsibly.
She donned her feminist garb and decided on her own to ignore three official channels. That is distasteful and immature behavior.
Me-me-me is not an honorable quality for an officer (or anyone).
Thanks for that insight.