Sunday, August 28, 2005
Iraqi Woman at State of the Union Address Turns on Bush
Remember this woman? Her name is Safia Taleb al-Suhail (or Sofia Taleb Al Souhail depending on the translation). She stirred emotions at Bush's February State of the Union address when she hugged the mother of a 25-year old marine killed in Iraq.
Oh how the right-wing blogs loved every minute of it...
The embrace between the Iraqi activist and Mrs. Norwood was powerfully emotional and symbolic, summing up at once the sacrifice, the purpose and the progress of the Iraq war.
He seems much more comfortable and relaxed, probably because of the Iraqi elections going so well. I think we're just figuring out just how much the Administration's plans turned on that. He bet on the Iraqi people, and he won.
Here's the simplest way to say it: The best parts of this State of the Union speech ... weren't in the speech. [...]
Safia Taleb al-Suhail, leader of the Iraqi Women's Political Council, who's withstood more than one death threat in her life, standing to applause, her uplifted hand shaking with emotion.
- flicknut's diary :: ::
But wait! Now Safia has changed her mind about the so-called noble cause because the draft constitution leaves women's rights in the hands of Islamic clerics, turning back decades of progress. In her own words:
When we came back from exile, we thought we were going to improve rights and the position of women. But look what has happened -- we have lost all the gains we made over the last 30 years. It's a big disappointment.
