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This article is certainly worth reading, as a discussion of human rights abuses in Iraq, but I think it is being entirely misrepresented, in the discussion, as a reason why Western powers should invade that country.

To start with, the reason why these women were executed is not clear. The article says that they were accused of prostitution but that even in a country as "weird" as Iraq this is not a capital offense. Indeed, that is true. If you want a country which does make prostitution a capital offense there is ... our ally, Saudi Arabia. Executions like this are quite common there. We support that regime with lavish military aid and standing troops.

Puppage, the issue of Islam is not on the agenda here. Some of those women were killed because they were political dissidents - Shia Muslim activists against the secular regime in Iraq. Sadaam Hussein's regime has executed more members of the Islamic clergy than any other govt in the Middle East!

These Islamic dissidents are part of this dodgy collection of allies we have on the projected Iraq war. Who exactly are these people? Shia Muslims in the south, who are under the influence of the Iranian govt, and Kurdish separatists in the north. The Kurdish tribesmen are heavily into gender oppression, and have felt the harsh hand of the Iraqi state in the past, which forced them to allow girls to go to school etc. In 1991, after the establishment of the no-fly zone and the return of Kurdish refugees from the hills, there was a wave of killings of Kurdish women by reactionary Kurdish men. Even working in a beauty salon was sufficient excuse for a death penalty. Kurdish women who were educated or independant were identified with the Baathist regime, which makes education for women a priority. Many were killed, and some had to flee to Bagdad. All this happened in the enclave under Western protection. These are our "allies" - do we dare dress it up as a war for women's rights?

Lets admit that the Kurdish tribesmen, and the Shia dissidents, and the Saudi reactionaries, and the govt of Iraq, are all very lacking in the issue of women's rights. And there is not much that we can do about it. We cannot right the world's wrongs, only nutty socialists think that.

I have never heard of Iraq using public be-headings before as an execution practice. I am not even sure Iraq practices public executions. This sounds very Saudi like to me. My Cousin was present in Jeda when six men were be- headed in a similiar fashion for the rape of a 12 year old girl.

the issue of Islam is not on the agenda here.

Dear, God. Do I need to put a <<<sarcasm at the end of my statement? And, even though it was a sarcastic comment, I certainly didn't need a dissertaion from the likes of you. Lighten up for pete's sake.