You know, one of the many things that always amazes me about Reich Wing Doublethink is their selective blindness.  People like Michelle Malkin raise all kinds of holy hell about the dangers of Sharia Law at the public pool, but when it comes to Bush Dynasty BFF's Saudi Arabia, nary a peep about the horrific plight of women, children, gays, survivors of sexual assault, and other victims of radical Islam's Medievalist views of gender and sexuality.

Maybe the Malkintents like Saudi Arabia because in their heart of hearts they secretly yearn for the lash on their backs.  They long for that kind of iron-fisted, authoritarian religious dogma to govern their lives, a world where everyone's roles are circumscribed by a two-thousand-year-old, poorly translated, politically freighted book.  They yearn for a culture where men are men, women are little better than appliances, and gender equality is a concept only slightly less far-fetched than a talking dog that speaks English and Arabic.

From a Human Rights Watch Report (February, 2007):

In interviews with roughly 100 Saudi women academics, educators and medical professionals, Human Rights Watch documented how male guardianship of adult women denies women the right to employment, education, health, and freedom of movement. Government policy often explicitly requires male consent for a range of everyday activities. This system, premised on the idea that women have limited or no legal capacity to act on their own behalf, affects all Saudi women across economic or social divides. While guardianship is construed as a form of protection for women, in fact, it fails to protect some of their most basic rights. 

Which brings us to news anchor Buthayna Nasser (h/t to Jessica!) today's winner of Feministing's Bad-Ass Woman of the Day award.  Jessica sez:

Buthayna Nasser is a Saudi newscaster, and goddamn she is awesome. Not to mention brave.

Amen to that!  Watch the clip above and see Buthayna take no prisoners in a Lebanese TV debate with a radical Muslim cleric who is basically a Saudi Jerry Falwell in that he apparently believes that women (and sodomites, too, presumably) who aren't properly oppressed will cause people in New York and Washington to hijack planes and fly them into skyscrapers in Riyadh.  Or something.

Let's go to the transcript, shall we?

Nasser al Huneini: What we want is for women to reveal their culture and intellect.  We want women to play a role in the development of society.  But a woman who insists upon appearing on TV insists upon showing her body.  Why do we act unjustly toward women by saying that we can only benefit from them by presenting them to people this way?  

Gosh, why does that sound weirdly familiar?  Well, never mind that for now. He goes on for a few minutes about the evils of women uncovering their neck and hair, or (Allah forbid!) wearing makeup or jewelry.  Buthanya responds:

Buthayna Nasser: Sir, when I appear on TV, and when I claim my right to play a role in this professional field, I demand that my face, which constitutes my identity, be shown.  Under no circumstances am I prepared to let my identity be obliterated.  

Who are these people who would decide for me how I should behave?  Why do you treat me as less qualified because I am a woman?  Why is there always a male voice deciding how I should behave?  The Lord created me equal to you in my duties, punishment, and reward.  When you fast, I fast.  When you pray, I pray.  When you steal, your hand is cut off.  When I steal, mine is cut off.  This is the greatest evidence that I am not less qualified.  I know what I am doing, and I know how to maintain my honor.   

Right ON, Ms. Nasser!  That's the freakin' spirit!

Buthayna Nasser: You who frighten people with hell have brought them a hell on earth.

Whoa, dude.  Is she talking to Muslim clerics or George W. Bush?

No matter.  Buthayna, we're booking you in a slot to debate Rush Limbaugh later this week, followed by John Gibson, Bill O'Reilly, and Michael Smerconish.  Then if you're up to it, we want you to take on Kate O'Beirne, okay?  Great.  I'll call you!  Let's do lunch!