Women Lose Ground in the New Iraq

[cal04]

Once They Were Encouraged to Study and Work; Now Life Is 'Just Like Being in Jail'

Browsing the shelves of a cosmetics store in the Karrada shopping district, Zahra Khalid felt giddy at the sight of Alberto shampoo and Miss Rose eye shadow, blusher and powder.

Before leaving her house, she had covered her body in a billowing black abaya and wrapped a black head scarf around her thick brown hair. She had asked her brother to drive. She had done all the things that a woman living in Baghdad is supposed to do these days to avoid drawing attention to herself.

(snip)
"For a woman, it's just like being in jail," she said. "I can't go anywhere."

(snip)
"We're suffering right now," Khalid said, her two sons tugging at her abaya. "The war took all our rights. We're not free because of terrorism."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/15/AR2006121501744.html

[Erika]

1. Saddam ran a secular government with rights for women

W has re-introduced Sharia.

[Erika]

2. We haven't heard W bragging about women lately.

Anyone heard aboout Karen Hughes lately? She still drawing a government salary?