Posted on 05/10/2002 5:27:14 PM PDT by JoeMomma
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin yesterday drew a reluctant House into Air Force Lt. Col. Martha McSally's fight against the Islamic dress code for U.S. military women in Saudi Arabia.
Langevin won the promise of a full House vote on his measure to scrap the regulation, which Rhode Island native McSally has challenged in federal court. His amendment would forbid the Pentagon to buy abayas for servicewomen in Saudi Arabia or compel them to wear them.
"Women make first-class soldiers and should not be treated like second-class citizens," Langevin told the House during debate on the defense budget bill for 2003.
As a practical matter, McSally had already won her point when military officials rescinded the regulation requiring female pesonnel to wear the abaya -- a traditional robe that covers women from head to toe -- when traveling off their base in Saudi Arabia.
But McSally has refused to drop her lawsuit because officials have continued to recommend strongly that women wear the abaya, chiefly as a security and safety measure.
The military has maintained that uncovered servicewomen might be in jeopardy from Saudi Arabia's religious police.
Langevin's amendment had a roller-coaster ride on the way to the House floor. On Wednesday night, key GOP members indicated to him that it would be one of the amendments allowed on the floor yesterday. Later, they voted against pemitting a vote on his measure.
But last night, Langevin won agreement for a compromise amendment that would let the military reimpose the abaya rule in certain extraordinary circumstances deemed "essential" to their military mission.
Sad thing is that it's not anyone from the President's party. U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) is proposing that the Pentagon should be forbidden to buy abayas (Islamic religious dress for women) for women stationed in Saudi Arabia.
I wonder if the House GOP will stand up to Bush's bowing down before intolerant religious fanatics.
Oh, I forget -- shhhhh -- Saudi Arabia is our ally ...
Servicewomen not wearing traditional clothing is like a giant "F*** YOU!" to the local populace which can also serve to increase resentment.
As much as you may not like Saudi Arabia, the last thing the world needs is a SA controlled by extremist Islamic fundamentalists.
Remember that one of bin Laden's major qualms with the US was the mere presence of soldiers in Arabia's holy sites. How much worse would the problems be if servicewomen flaunt their disrespect for their customs at the holy sites?
When invited to someone's home, don't be a dork and insist on bringing unwelcome habits.
If she doesn't want to be a team player, she should go play on another team.
Stateside colleges will give her all the clothing freedom she wants.
Why do I think Mr. Langevin would complain that visitors here can't assimilate into our culture? My paranoia.
Good. The local populace has earned a giant "F*** YOU!"
Or talk back to their betters (men)?
Or resist when they are "cultivated" against their will?
A good example of how this is reciprocated is the Saudi prince demanding that his flight not be handled by female air controllers.
You rock, Col. McSally. Go for it.
That story never passed the smell test with me. Arab princes have been traveling to Texas for decades. Are they trying to tell me this just happened for the first time on this visit?
It is more than time we told the Saud family to stuff it. If they want to live in the 14th century, I say we halt all military aid and let Saddam run roughshod over them. Then we need to go in and wipe these f*cking Muslims off the face of the earth.
It is nice to see you supporting Islamic fundamentalists (the same ones who cheered the deaths of Americans on 9-11) over the an US Air Force officer.
We may disagree with Saudi laws (as far as I'm concerned, their sponsorship of terrorism makes them our enemies), but we have no business sending our service personnel out to break them. If female soldiers don't want to comply with local laws while on liberty, then they should be confined to base.
This is a military security matter in Saudi Arabia, not some women's rights demonstration in Berkeley.
Imal
Wrong answer. There are other options. Loose lips.
So I guess if some back-asswards country demands our black soldiers and Marines should be bound and tied to follow in back of white leaders when they go out on town, we need to follow that as well?
Wrong answer. The fact of the matter is this officer took an Oath to the US Constitution, not some f*ckin' 14th Century Islamic bigoted regualtion. If the Air Force forced her to wear a Islamic veil instead of her uniform - for whatever reason - I'd say it's the Air Force that's screwed up, not her.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I feel the need to vomit....
If that's what's going on here, then a clear understanding needs to be made that U.S. service personnel will wear U.S. uniforms. Period.
If U.S. uniforms are problematic for the locals, then security arrangements, or, more fundamentally, formal relations with the host nation need to be re-evaluated.
Imal
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