Arab Women Shun Bush Confidante (Karen Hughes)

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 9-30-2005 | Francis Harris

[blam]

Arab women shun Bush confidante

By Francis Harris in Washington
(Filed: 30/09/2005)

A confidante and former chief image-maker to President George W Bush has discovered the limits of the spin doctor's art on her first tour of the Islamic world.

Karen Hughes, the new US under-secretary for public diplomacy, was told by professional women in Saudi Arabia and Turkey that she and America failed to understand them. Her tour had been designed to underline the Bush administration's new commitment to improving its image in Muslim countries.

Speaking to women in the Saudi city of Jeddah, the former television reporter who is a long-standing member of Mr Bush's inner circle, introduced herself as a "Mom" and said the right to drive a car was "an important part of my freedom". Saudi women are forbidden to drive.

The Texan was soon on the defensive. A reporter present said a member of the audience said: "The general image of the Arab woman is that she isn't happy. Well we're all pretty happy."

The audience applauded loudly. Many said they resented the idea they would adopt US lifestyles given the chance. "There is more male chauvinism in my profession in Europe and America than in my country," Dr Siddiqa Kamal, a female obstetrician, told the New York Times. "I don't want to drive a car.

"I worked hard for my medical degree. Why do I need a driver's licence?"

Others agreed that the absence of women's rights did not trouble them. American reporters said that Ms Hughes appeared to be taken aback by the response.

The difficulties continued in Turkey where another meeting with professional women was dominated by Iraq. "You cannot bring in war for the sake of peace," said Feray Sazman.

A human rights worker, Hidayet Sefkatli Tuksal, told Ms Hughes she felt "wounded and insulted" by the images of fear in the eyes of Iraqi women and children.

Arab newspapers such as Al-Hayat said her mission was a fraud because she was "carrying a fake message".

But leaders in several Arab countries said she was at least listening.

A US State Department report yesterday stated that after the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal and the controversy over detainees at Guantanamo Bay, America was seen less as "a beacon of hope than a dangerous force to be countered".

It added: "This assertion, repeated in newspaper columns, on radio and television broadcasts, and via the internet, diminishes our ability to champion freedom, democracy and individual dignity."

[federal]

It been said that a lot of the slaves when freed didn't want to leave the farms, does the telegraph think they should have stayed on as slaves?

So people are worried about the unknown we should just keep on discriminating against them seems to be the point of this stupid article as best I can tell........

[Loud Mime]

a country where women don't want to drive? No doubt its safer there. ;)

[Txsleuth]

People don't miss something they never had...and if these women have never lived in a society like America's, then I could see where they would get defensive about being told that they "should" want to change...

however, the part of the report that says that those Abu-GHarib pictures, and the "rumors" or torture at Gitmo, have caused the people to see us as oppressors instead of liberators...then that is a darn shame...

and I just heard that O'Reilly just was saying that the Pentagon hasn't openly fought to keep those videos and other pictures out of the newspaper, after a judge recently ruled in favor of the NYTimes to show them...

[elli1]

Think I'll wait to hear Ms Hughes.

[Rome2000]

The Texan was soon on the defensive. A reporter present said a member of the audience said: "The general image of the Arab woman is that she isn't happy. Well we're all pretty happy."

More left wing rubbish masquerading as news.

[nothingnew]

I don't envy anyone in our government who has to deal with zealots of any sort. Let these people fend for themselves............after a year or so, they'll be screaming for OUR help.......Then..."Just Say NO".....

FMCDH(BITS)

[Txsleuth]

NOW that is a good idea!!! Me too....

I think I would really like to hear what Karen has to say..it should really be interesting...

Different countries, I am sure, are different in their reactions, of course...and I would like Karen to speak to the women of Afghanistan...

When we first won the war....I was aghast at the women having to wear burqas...and was so glad that they wouldn't have to anymore, after we rid the country of the Taliban, and supposedly Sha'ria Law...

but, when I saw footage of the elections last week, it looked like most of the women still wear them....I would love to know why...

[blam]

"and I just heard that O'Reilly just was saying that the Pentagon hasn't openly fought to keep those videos and other pictures out of the newspaper, after a judge recently ruled in favor of the NYTimes to show them... "

Yup, I saw that...a good segment for O'Reilly.

[HIDEK6]

a country where women don't want to drive? No doubt its safer there. ;)

OK

Who has the picture of the 60 or so wrecked cars entitled, "Woman-only parking lot"?

[sgtbono2002]

Women go back to men that beat them. Why??

[melt]

America failed to understand them

That's right. The koran calls for killing all Jews and Infidels.
Don't Americans understand that every suicide bomber had a mother?

[Cacique]

I am reminded of the "battered woamn" syndrome which applies to most women in that situation who go as far as to defend the abuser against all logic.

Happy is a relative term, a pampered slave is still a slave. We cannot "liberate" the arabs as long as they prefer their own tyrants to what they perceive as foreign puppets. Even if they are freely elected.

Most Germans where not "nazis" yet they fought to the death against all enemies of their nation in order to defend their tyrant. I am afraid the arabs will only change when they finally, like the germans, sit among the rubble of their cities and realize they follow a failed way of life, religion and culture wise. Until we realize that, we will not win the war against Islam. And, it is a war against Islam, the terror phase is merely a small part of it.

[Txsleuth]

You know what?

I don't know...and I was one of them, once upon a time ago...I went back a few times....but finally left for good, after he was hosptitalized in a psych hospital....

There are prolly as many answers as there are women...and all of them irrational...

But, I definitely see your point...good one.

[gg188]

Dr Siddiqa Kamal, a female obstetrician, told the New York Times. "I don't want to drive a car. "I worked hard for my medical degree. Why do I need a driver's licence?"

That is SERIOUS "Stockholm Syndrome." Any Western psychologist would say that this person has a mental problem.

This is sorta like, "Yes, my husband beats me, but he is a good provider and I know he loves me."

I sure wouldn't want this "Doctor" treating me or my family.

[elli1]

but, when I saw footage of the elections last week, it looked like most of the women still wear them....I would love to know why...

Guessing--part of it is that they're used to wearing them...like I'm used to wearing shorts in the summer & jeans in the winter. If I 'have to' wear something else, as in 'dress-up', I feel goofy.

Biggest part, I think, is a sense of personal security. They feel protected and would feel vulnerable in something more revealing. It's as much or more a social custom as it is a religious one and customs are slow to change.

[gg188]

I am reminded of the "battered woamn" syndrome which applies to most women in that situation who go as far as to defend the abuser against all logic.

This is like, "I know my husband/boyfriend loves me. He just has to beat me because sometimes I am bad."

[firebrand]

Karen should have had answers ready.

[quantim]

"Arab Women" is a borderline oxymoron.

How one could be a 'woman' in the Arab world is beyond me.

[Txsleuth]

I can buy that...sounds good to me...

You know, I see women all the time that SHOULD wear burqas...LOL

shame on me!!...I like shorts and BIG T-shirts, myself.