I am curious about something....

[Occhidiangela]

I nominate this as quote of the thread  :P
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Talk about weird timing. We talk about the women in Muslim countries thing, and presto:

New York Times June 21, 2005 Pg. 1
Rice Urges Egyptians And Saudis To Democratize
By Steven R. Weisman
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, June 21 - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, delivering a challenge to the United States' closest allies in the Arab world, called on Egypt and Saudi Arabia on Monday to embrace democracy by holding fair elections, releasing political prisoners and allowing free expression and rights for women.

"For 60 years, my country, the United States, pursued stability at the expense of democracy in this region here in the Middle East, and we achieved neither," Ms. Rice declared at the American University in Cairo. "Now we are taking a different course. We are supporting the democratic aspirations of all people."

Praising President Hosni Mubarak for taking some "encouraging" first steps toward democracy, she said Egypt's elections "must meet objective standards that define every free election," including freedom of assembly, speech and press.

As for Saudi Arabia, where Ms. Rice flew after speaking in Egypt, she said that "brave citizens are demanding accountability from their government" and that "many people pay an unfair price for exercising their basic rights."

She praised "some first steps toward openness" in the holding of municipal elections. But she condemned depriving women of the right to vote and the arrests of some dissidents.

Ms. Rice's appeal, some of the toughest talk in the Arab world from a secretary of state, drew a mixed reaction, including criticism from Egyptian opposition groups demanding an even harder line. On the other hand, the Egyptian foreign minister, dismissing her comments, said Egypt's planned elections were already going to be free and fair. ==snip the rest==

I wonder if Secretary Rice Lurks the Lounge. :) *waves just in case*

Occhi