It is sad that this eerily beautiful Hirsi Ali (I love her long legs and noble face) has to endure this in America. Her persecutors are scumbags who probably look like Ibby Hooper and the CAIR-Bund.

Posted by: Frank at March 27, 2007 9:13 AM

Perhaps she should go visit President Bush and ask him about those 'Peaceful Muslims' and the 'Religion of Peace'...

Posted by: CrazyFool at March 27, 2007 9:38 AM

She committed the ultimate CHUTZPAH:

Insulting the fiend muhammad (MHRIHF)*

*MHRIHF may he rot in Hell forever

Posted by: Ynkedoodl2 at March 27, 2007 9:38 AM

I pray for this remarkable woman's safety each day.

And yes, Mr. Spencer, I too often find myself recalling Hugh's word's

"-- about how much more dangerous, difficult, expensive, and uncomfortable massive Muslim immigration has made life in the West.

Yet no one dares to examine immigration policies in that light -- as a national security issue."

As yet another example . . .

Consider this documentary video about The Aztec AlQaeda as an example of tax dollars at work

Posted by: justamomof4 at March 27, 2007 9:43 AM

"Besides glowing reviews in The New York Times and other media, Hirsi Ali is also coming up against opposition because of her uncompromising criticism of Islam."

And of course why would this brilliant woman wish to compromise on what she knows to be the truth. She clearly understands the aggressive and radical nature of fundamental Islam. Ayaan Hirsi Ali knows only to well from here own experiences that if she compromises this would be seen as appeasement, and weakness in the Islamic world.

Though Ayaan now defines herself as an athiest and has been even critical of other religions I still say: God Bless You Ayaan Hirsi Ali and keep up the good work.

Posted by: Mackie at March 27, 2007 9:51 AM

Has Ayaan Hirsi Ali even yet been asked to meet with members of Congress, and the Administration? Has she been asked to talk to people in the Pentagon, in the State Department? No? Why not?

And the first candidate for President to meet her, to seek her counsel, will be doing something very intelligent -- in every sense.

Finally, has the FBI made it the highest priority to discover who is making threats, or if not making threats then threatening, Ayaan Hirsi Ali? This is more important than finding Whitey Bulger or the other Top Ten. This matters.

Hint to Barack Obama: you be the first. You meet with Ayaan Hirsi Ali. You discuss, not only the Arab massacres of black Africans in Darfur, but the whole problem of Islam as a vehicle for Arab cultural, linguistic, and political oppression. You demonstrate that, like Ayaan Hirsi Ali herself, you are a full-fledged apostate and American voters need not -- as many rightly at this point do -- worry. It will drive Hillary Clinton and the rest of the Democratic candidates crazy, and it will force a much-needed upping of the ante.

Posted by: Hugh at March 27, 2007 9:53 AM

And thank you very much Mr.Ahmed Bedier for your Apostae rants on the Glenn beck show about the SIS conference in Florida, by your very own words you endanger her life by inciting Muslims through an inference that any Muslims that don't fit into CAIR's perception of a "True" Muslim or doesn't use a Arabic Quran is Anti-islam and apostate to be punished by Shariah law .

Yes , Shariah law , because when you had a chance to condemn Shariah law in Muslim nations you made a free will choice to remain indifferent
by the silence to make a terse and succint stance for either side of the issue.

In Canada now we have moderate Muslims being threatened with death for not embracing Sharia or the Whahabbi version of Islam, and for CAIR to claim they support free speech and want dialogue
with the Islamofacists that want to murder canadians , that is a dangerous position that only emboldens these thugs by the appeasement to respect their right to impose Sharia but only oppose who it applies to.

CAIR-Canada should be charged with a Hate-Crime since Bedier's declaration of moderates being atheists or apostates was directly linked to a new wave of death threats to Muslims BY Muslims , if only CAIR exercised the same level of passion for denouncing Muslim thugs as they do for "Alleged" vandalism to Mosques by accused non-Muslims when not one person or witnesss can link the vandalism to American Christians.

Posted by: ala-sux at March 27, 2007 10:11 AM

As usual, I agree with Hugh's strategy . . .but more needs to be done to expose the demographic political gaming played by muslim advocacy groups (“The 8-Million Muslim Lie”) to show the political benefits of meeting with/standing with Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

Posted by: justamomof4 at March 27, 2007 10:17 AM

CAIR and other islamics were honored guests at the White House.

Has Hirsi Ali ever been to the White House as an honored guest?

Seriously, I would like to know.

Posted by: witness at March 27, 2007 10:26 AM

justamomof4-

Yes, Hugh is right. I sometimes think Business Week, the Wall Street Journal, etc. should track Muslim movements for the purpose of identifying emerging Security Industry opportunities. They create the need for that wherever they go. It's supply and demand. It's a business, franchise opportunity. Hugh could start a consulting business re Emerging Security Industry Opportunities in the Global Market.

Posted by: Frank at March 27, 2007 10:31 AM

While the fat saudi pigs wallow contentedly in their petrodollar-lined sty....

I look forward to the day when it is they and the mullahs who cower in fear.

Posted by: Infidel33 at March 27, 2007 10:38 AM

"You demonstrate that, like Ayaan Hirsi Ali herself, you are a full-fledged apostate and American voters need not -- as many rightly at this point do -- worry.""

...won't happen...Obama sides with the other side..he just won't come out to say it....

As most here already know...The typical Muslim reaction to anyone who does not bow down...is to simply kill them...And kill people, the Muslims do....

Posted by: exsgtbrown at March 27, 2007 10:39 AM

Aayan, don't be shy, sweetheart. You are living in a 2nd amendment country. Get yourself a gun. Start spying THEM out. Start terrorizing THEM. Don't take this.

Posted by: Jauhara Al-Kafirah at March 27, 2007 10:48 AM

You (the united snakes) waste so much money protecting an 'apostate' but who will protect you against Allah's wrath? You have no helpers besides the most Gracious.

Ayan Hirsi has LEFT faith after entering Faith. There is no faith after leaving faith. Which means you have to be sent to your maker and meet Him with the 'certainty' of the eye. Do you people of little faith understand this ruling in Islam? I doubt it.

Posted by: Abdullah at March 27, 2007 11:13 AM

“Allah's wrath?”

Yeah, we know all about “Allah’s wrath”. Isn’t that the name of a middle eastern rap group? Funny how Allah needs you to carry it out seeing as how he can’t magically defend himself.

“There is no faith after leaving faith”

Leaving a lie for the truth is rewarding in and of itself. Most of us would rather die for the truth (and are not afraid to) than live for the lie you have fallen for, and end up dying twice for. Keep your fabricated faith and we’ll keep what we believe in. If what you say is true, we will see just who is standing where when we all reach judgment. Meanwhile, keep your hatred in the masjid where it belongs.

Thanks for stopping by.

-XRDC

Posted by: XRDC at March 27, 2007 11:52 AM

Abdullah;

Why would we need protection from a fraud?

If it never was,how can it be a threat???

Your reality is actually a false perception,therefore you deceive yourself.Thus, there can be no greater deceit than to fool one's self.

You need professional help to cure your psychosis.

Posted by: billybob at March 27, 2007 11:52 AM

@ Abdullard

You evince a fear of the ideas put forth by the likes of Hirsi Ali. Are you distrubed by her criticism of islam? She seems to have touched a nerve deep within you. Much like the Spanish lady I read of yesterday who wore a t-shirt to the trial of her husband's muslim murderer. You recall the Spanish lady who wore the t-shirt mocking mohamet?

Non-submissive infidel women mock your ideology by their mere existence, don't they? You must find that disturbing too.

Posted by: omvi at March 27, 2007 12:01 PM

abdulla

I thought in Islam there's "no compulsion in religion."

If so, why did the fiend muhammad (MHRIHF) say: "He who changes his religion, kill him"

man badala diinhu, qatalahu

SOUNDS LIKE THE CULT OF SATAN!

*MHRIHFE (may he rot in Hell forever)

Posted by: Ynkedoodl2 at March 27, 2007 12:07 PM

"a consulting business re Emerging Security Industry Opportunities in the Global Market."

All suggestions for making money most welcome.

Posted by: Hugh at March 27, 2007 12:08 PM

abdullah

I curse allah (the fake moon god) everyday of my life and I curse the phony prophet and mass murderer muhammad (may he rot in hell forever)with every breath I take.

I bless Jesus everyday of my life and I will be in Heaven sitting beside HIM on judgment day. I confess my sins by the minute and I do everything with God as my witness.

your allah is Satan in disguise. muhammad the fake prophet is in hell for all eternity and there is nothing you or your followers can do to redeem him.

Posted by: Ynkedoodl2 at March 27, 2007 12:13 PM

I'm having a cookie sale and all proceeds will help purchase a gun for Hirsi Ali so she could protect herself.

Posted by: Rafa at March 27, 2007 12:13 PM

No surprise. Believing Muslims worldwide are members of a Family -- very similar to other families run by the likes of the John Gottis and Don Corleones of the world.

Posted by: A_Plague_on_Both_Houses at March 27, 2007 12:18 PM

abdullah: You (the united snakes) waste so much money protecting an 'apostate' but who will protect you against Allah's wrath? You have no helpers besides the most Gracious

The Lord our God shall protect us against the Evil One called Allah

Posted by: PapaBear at March 27, 2007 12:18 PM

Somehow, Abdullah seems to provide the same 'eye into the Muslim' exposure that Naseem does. I'd ask Marisol and Hugh to ensure that he never gets banned.

Posted by: Infidel Pride at March 27, 2007 12:19 PM

WHEN WILL SHE BE MEETING THAT IDIOT OPRAH WINFREH ?

IS OPRAH TO STUPID OR TO SCARED TO INVITE HER ?

Posted by: apostate_islam at March 27, 2007 12:39 PM

"IS OPRAH TO STUPID OR TO SCARED..."

Neither. She is a business woman who doesn't risk having on guests that challenge her position on anything significant.

OPRAH:

What if people like Hrsi Ali better? What if she says Islam is bad? How do we gloss over that? No, no, it is much too risky and we don't want loose cannons coming in here and affecting the loyal flock.

-XRDC

Posted by: XRDC at March 27, 2007 12:52 PM

"Do you people of little faith understand this ruling in Islam? I doubt it."
Posted by Abdul
I understand it. I also understand the ruling on shahidiots being offered 72 virgins and muslim men being able to marry Non-muslim women but not vice-versa. These rulings are all quite transparent, and have the same purpose. They were all designed by a warlord named Muhammad (Pig Bollocks Upon Him) and expanded by the warlords who followed him for the sole purpose of perpetually increasing his army and consolidating his power. But then again when you are a slave and have a slave mentality, its much more likely that you will do what you are told than for you to first stop and think about why you are doing it.
Oh I understand it. I understand it all too well.

Posted by: Abu Allah at March 27, 2007 1:20 PM

== Quote ==

You (the united snakes) waste so much money protecting an 'apostate' but who will protect you against Allah's wrath? You have no helpers besides the most Gracious.

Ayan Hirsi has LEFT faith after entering Faith. There is no faith after leaving faith. Which means you have to be sent to your maker and meet Him with the 'certainty' of the eye. Do you people of little faith understand this ruling in Islam? I doubt it.
Posted by: Abdullah [TypeKey Profile Page] at March 27, 2007 11:13 AM

== End Quote ==

Abdullah:

Your post just shows everything that is intolerant and evil and wrong and duplicitous about Islam. Muhammad may have said, "There is no compulsion in religion", but also said, "He who changes his religion, kill him."

You advocate death for apostates. You assume that faith can only be faith in Allah.

Does death for apostacy stop when everyone claims to muslim, or are you the one to gauge the measure of a man's faith? If one doesn't beleive the way you do, does that one deserve death as an apostate too?

Is Islam that pathologically insecure that it cannot stand up to critism from non-muslims and ex-muslims?

Where does it stop? I ask again: Where does it stop?

I have faith in the Lord God Almighty, Who WAS, and IS, and IS TO COME. I have faith in the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I have faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ, for it is the power to heal men and save men's souls from eternal torment.

I have faith in Jesus because that faith GUARANTEES me a place in his kingdom. A kingdom built on God's LOVE for man and HIS desire to see his children become everything he made them to be.

My God created the Angels as servants. But He created Man with FREE WILL so he could CHOOSE his own path. He doesn't want submission, he wants US TO CHOOSE HIM and to choose RELATIONSHIP and COMMUNION and FELLOWSHIP with HIM!

Wow. This becomes so exciting when I think about it. I can just feel the Holy Spirit anointing me right now.

Abdullah, Jesus died so you could live eternally with Him. He's guaranteeing you a place in His kingdom, all you have to do is have faith in Him.

Posted by: Canadian Christian at March 27, 2007 1:21 PM

The USA, unlike any lands of 7th-century barbarity, offers Hirsi Ali -and all good citizens -no matter gender, race, creed, religious affiliation, etc., the inalienable right to protect and defend herself - as guaranteed by the best of Western Civilization via our nation's Second Amendment.
All non-barbarians of JW/DW should create and donate to a fund to purchase Hirsi Ali the best in self-defense -the Desert Eagle Mark XIX, 50 cal. pistol, loads of ammo - and lessons on how to stop wouldbe murdering islamofascists in their tracks -anytime and anywhere.

Posted by: TINBH at March 27, 2007 1:49 PM

I just laugh at these stories which call Ali a "liberal". She is nothing of the sort. She is Conservative to the core.
It is the liberals who are the ones doing the threatening as all leftists do from communism, socialism, Nazi, fascism and Islam united to the political trends which advocate dictatorial powers over the masses.

This propaganda of the media is nuts. Ali advocates the same measures George W. Bush does.....so does that make him a liberal too.

The rhetorical answers the question itself. The media is as bad as Islam for lies.

Posted by: Lame Cherry at March 27, 2007 2:49 PM

Lame Cherry

Funnily enough, she was in a liberal party when she was in the Dutch Parliament. And she is a strong atheist. So that would make her liberal to some extent.

Posted by: wrathofasma at March 27, 2007 3:02 PM

Lame Cherry

Yes she is a liberal but not the kind of liberal conservatives are used too. She is a classical liberal along the lines of Voltaire or what liberals were 50-70 years ago. She is no multiculturalist and is not pc. I might not agree with everything she says but she is not trying to prevent me from doing what I want in my life. She is not a communist either. She is a free will liberal. They are a rare. That why both conservatives and liberals don't know what to make of her.

The liberals people see on TV are progressives who dress up in turtle outfits and hold up traffic. They are the failed communist.

Posted by: greatcometof1577 at March 27, 2007 3:11 PM

Lame Cherry

Perhaps a better way to say it:

Some people are not defined by the term "conservative" or "liberal". She is one of them. One thing is true about her...

She is on our side (what ever that is).

Posted by: greatcometof1577 at March 27, 2007 3:13 PM

Even here in America, the land of "freedom of speech", this woman's life is in danger for telling the truth about Islam. Disgraceful.

Posted by: staff_of_magius at March 27, 2007 4:22 PM

Abdullah,

" You (the united snakes) waste so much money protecting an 'apostate' but who will protect you against Allah's wrath? You have no helpers besides the most Gracious.

Ayan Hirsi has LEFT faith after entering Faith. There is no faith after leaving faith. Which means you have to be sent to your maker and meet Him with the 'certainty' of the eye. Do you people of little faith understand this ruling in Islam? I doubt it."

Suprising that you would say this, considering that in your religion it believes in the idea that there is "no compulsion in religion." What a contradiction in words. If Ayan Hirsi does not want to be a Muslim anymore, that is her right. It is her decision and as such should be repected. This is hypocracy at its worse when your religion says one thing about no compulsion in religion yet threatens death to those people who want to leave Islam. This prvoves Islam to be very brittle indeed.

Posted by: bigcatgirl13106 at March 27, 2007 4:40 PM

The horrific thing about the whole topic of islam and it's hooey is that there should not even be poltical sides to this crap.

Islam has openly stated it's plans,none refute them.There are different jihads by different tentacles of islam.The lowliest of muslims are not the ones to have threatened the west or even attacked the west.There are attacks against our soldiers by nations who have no buisiness legitemetly doing so unless they want war.

People sitting around pointing out who is on what team is intollerable to me.If there is a team out there that opposes our self defense then they need benched,they work for the enemy and in fact should be put into custody.

The constsnt drivel comming from some or most political elite over the loss of freedoms for the muslims while at the same time trying to establish different sets of rule for them is very infuriating.To say the least.

The west seems more worried about giving our rights away to those who wish others to have none.Give them nothing and allow them safe passage back to sharia ville,it's that simple.

If muslims don't want islam put on trial,or out in the open to it's hardcore beliefs that are glossed over by liars then take islam home.Get it out of here.Islam will soon be torn to shreds because lies cannot stay hidden forever,they come back to haunt.The more open the press and politicians get about the true natures of islam the more the people in the west will realize,HELL NO,ISLAM MUST GO!!

To beam the fact that this woman ,a mere one person,that just decided islam was to cruel for her to be involved with and has a death threat hanging over here head for it,like many many others is just too powerful of an example of why islam is no good.Especially here in the west.To be free in the west and have to have body guards is not even excusable,not at all.

The death threat alone speaks volumes.It should be saing so loudly that all of us in the west have the same death threat over our selfs.

Now why welcome islam with open arms.The faith with one hand for shaking and the other to slit the friends throat?

I just can't understand it.

If all "moderates' or ex muslims would stand up and perhaps demand security in doing so the gov. might find it easier and cheaper to rid itself of the this crap called islam.

The islamic world should be banned from the west until it has met hard core changes to equality of persons and religions.There should be no saudis comming here until there are as many churches in the kingdom as there are mosques here in the west.

When the Bible is allowed to reside in the kingdom then the koran,without it's hurtful hooey will be allowed in the west.Same goes for any islamic state or nation.

And as far as aid to the muslim lands well lets just say that when the nations and states run completely out of money then we would help them but not while they spend money on weopons and murder.They can figure thier own way out of thier mess.

I fail to see why the west should have to provide to feed people while they have plenty of money for weopons and the causes of death.While our prople choose between food medicine and energy not to mention healthcare.

All the things we work to have abd be able to afford we still can't get becuase we have to give to those who do not earn a darn thing....nothing.

And then the arrogance that we are abliged by allah to pay this tax to these freaks.GO GET A JOB.Can't find a job go ask your dear leaders where the money for jobs go to.

get off of my cloud you users and freeloaders.figure it out or die in your stagnant and pitiful existances.

And all that jazz.

Posted by: Dar al-harb at March 27, 2007 5:14 PM

From the article

The Liberal VVD politician had to travel by armoured car in the Netherlands, accompanied by six bodyguards. In the US just two security workers, who kept an eye on her from a distance, sufficed.

Who pays for these two (previously six) bodyguards? Does she have to pay for it out of her own pocket? Does the U.S. government have to pick up the tab? Either way, it is just as Hugh has described it in the past: another tax on infidels that must be paid as the cost of having angry, outraged, inflamed, and enraged people (aka Muslims) living in our midst. Hirsi Ali has committed the ultimate crime of saying something critical of Islam, and for that she has to leave one country and hide in another. For that, she (or we) must pay for two (or six) full-time bodyguards. If every person who is critical of Islam has to pay that same price, and pay for full-time bodyguards, then criticism of Islam becomes an extremely expensive endeavour. Which is, one assumes, their goal.

Instead of creating an army of bodyguards to protect the few who are willing to say something critical about Islam, how about returning Muslims to their countries of origin? There is no reason for them to suffer the ignominy of living in a country with such outrageous heretics as Hirsi Ali and Robert Spencer and Britney Spears and others. And there is no reason for us to suffer the expense of hiring bodyguards whenever we want to speak our mind. The Muslim-infidel relationship just has not worked out. Chalk it up to irreconcilable differences, and move on, they with their life, and us with ours.

Posted by: special_guest at March 27, 2007 5:52 PM

special_guest:

Actually the Dutch Government is still footing the bill for for Ayaan hirsi Ali's Security.

Posted by: Mackie at March 27, 2007 6:24 PM

That's still "us", ie. infidels, paying for bodyguards because of Muslim rage and Muslim inability to take criticism. "Us" includes the Dutch government, and most other governments of the world, other than the Islamic ones, in my opinion.

I am curious if the U.S. government ever pays for protection of anti-jihadists like Robert and others, though.

Posted by: special_guest at March 27, 2007 7:44 PM

Abdullah,

This might shock you but my baptismal name is Abdullah. Yes, I was Baptized by an Arab priest who chose that name as a symbol of my CHRISTIAN Faith!

It is even possible for a Orthodox or Catholic Christian to be baptized with the name Muhammed! Saint Mohammed was a Turk serving in the court of the Ottoman Sultan. A brilliant scholar, he studied both Christianity and Islam and saw the contradictions in Islam. He also recognized the higher morality of Christianity and converted. Needless to say, the Sultan executed him for apostasy.

For information on other New Martyrs of the Turkish Yoke see:
http://www.roca.org/OA/23/23h.htm

Posted by: Provoslavni at March 27, 2007 10:02 PM

1. Say : O ye that reject Faith!

2. I worship not that which ye worship,

3. Nor will ye worship that which I worship.

4. And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship,

5. Nor will ye worship that which I worship.

6. To you be your Way, and to me mine.

Posted by: Abdullah at March 27, 2007 10:16 PM

You forgot the other 6 steps...

7. Humbly ask Him to remove your shortcomings.
8. Make a list of all persons you have harmed, and become willing to make amends to them all.
9. Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continue to take personal inventory and when you are wrong promptly admit it.
11. Seek through prayer and meditation to improve your conscious contact with God as you understand Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for you and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, try to carry this message to other alcoholics, and practice these principles in all your affairs.

Posted by: XRDC at March 27, 2007 10:47 PM

Good luck Abdullah. I hope you get your chip.

-XRDC

Posted by: XRDC at March 27, 2007 10:48 PM

The insolence of these people is literally intolerable.

Hugh nailed it.

I can think of few more compelling arguments for shutting down mohammedan imigration to the US than that such an excellent person as Hirsi Ali is under this level of threat on our streets.

Enough already.

They're not adding enough value to justify living with the dangers they present. Out of 10 guys we get what? Nine ordinary nothing-special types and one really toxic psychopath or sociopath who may be a murderer into the bargain.

It's just not worth it for an extra nine ordinary nobodies.

We can get those from anywhere.

Posted by: joeblough at March 28, 2007 4:28 AM

IF we didnt have Muslim immigration in the west, Hirsi Ali would still be in Somalia.

How do we resolve that in our minds?

Posted by: payingattention at March 28, 2007 7:09 AM

printed in the Philadelphia Daily News - March 13, 2007
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/opinion/16892042.htm

SOME WOMEN MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS
By DONNA BAVER ROVITO
ZILLA HUMMA Usman and Ayaan Hirsi Ali may be the bravest women on the planet.

Not brave like they might lose their jobs or be insulted for speaking out about workplace inequities, or they might get cold or wet demonstrating against "Bush's war."

I mean really brave, like they might be shot or stabbed or stoned or set on fire for having the courage to fight for the rights of Muslim women who are being oppressed, mutilated, abused, raped or even killed for the crime of being a woman.

Sadly, one of these brave women, Pakistani provincial minister Usman, IS dead - killed because she wasn't wearing a head scarf and held public office. "I just obeyed Allah's commandment," said gunman Mohammad Sarwar. "I will kill all those women who do not follow the right path." Many fundamentalist Muslims apparently feel the same way, if the number of "honor killings" in Pakistan - and in Germany, Canada and Australia- is any gauge.

The president the National Organization for Women immediately issued a statement denouncing Usman's murder and praising her work, calling on feminists throughout the world to continue her fight for gender equality for Muslim women.

Oh, wait... no, she didn't.

Neither NOW nor its Web site said anything about this brutal murder or the loss of this significant female leader. Not a word. (There is, however, an important piece on the site about how " 'Desperate Housewives' Misleads Viewers About Teen Contraception.")

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the Somali-born author of "Infidel," learned of a death threat against her when it was stabbed into the nine-times-shot-and-nearly-beheaded body of Theo Van Gogh. They had collaborated on a short film called "Submission" about the oppression of women in conservative Islamic cultures.

Forced out of her adopted home of Holland, where she was member of Parliament, Hirsi Ali now lives in the United States, where she was warmly welcomed by sister feminists from NOW, which offered her a weekly column about Muslim women's rights on its Web site and features her writings prominently in its Books section, as well as a link to download "Submission."

Oh, wait... no, they didn't.

There isn't a single entry about Ayaan Hirsi Ali on the NOW Web site. (But there IS a helpful video about "how advertising effects women's body image, health and self-esteem.")

There isn't a single book about Islamic gender apartheid among the 48 books on the NOW Web site. There are, however, six books bashing George Bush, a book attacking Mormon treatment of women and others advocating gay marriage - but nothing about forced marriages, honor killings, rapes, beatings or other forms of oppression suffered by Muslim women.

Fortunately, the American Enterprise Institute does offer Ali's books and a forum on which she can express thoughts like: "A culture that carves the genitals of young girls, hobbles their minds and justifies their physical oppression is not equal to a culture that believes women have the same rights as men... Just as we put an end to slavery, we must end the gendercide."

Their Web site claims that NOW's goal is "equality for all women" and fighting those who want to "keep women in their place." But they seem to have no outrage for the hideous place in which Islamic fundamentalists keep their women.

NOW has plenty of outrage, though, for Christian leaders they call "the American Taliban," anyone who doesn't support gay marriage and unrestricted abortion, and the "bully-in-chief" himself, George W. Bush, whom they targeted in a recent "peace march" in Washington, demonstrating their solidarity with some of the worst oppressors of women in the world - fundamentalist Islamic regimes.

In this case, I suspect that the enemy of their enemy (Bush) is not really their friend.

All of which makes me want to paraphrase Orwell's famous line about hypocrisy: "All women are created equal - but some women are more equal than others."

The women who are more equal might be identified as elitist non-religious Western feminists who support abortion, gay marriage and Hillary Clinton, and who just hate George W. Bush.

Sadly, at least in the eyes of America's most visible women's group, some women who are not as equal as others apparently include those subjugated by radical - and sometimes not so radical - practitioners of Islam throughout the world.

America and the rest of the western world's feminists are suffering from a self-absorption that fails to see the world outside their own sphere of privilege.

But they're also suffering from the trivialization and politization of what once used to be a noble fight for ALL women's rights.

Donna Baver Rovito is an advocate for quality health care and women's rights.

Posted by: DBR at March 28, 2007 11:21 AM