What about the women?

The right to wear hijab--not exactly a call to freedom for women from our President Barack Obama. Despite his implication, that's certainly not something we have an issue with in the US, only covering of the face. 

He did say it should be her choice. But what about women's inability to move about unescorted by a male in many countries, the unequal divorce laws, no right to drive, no right to vote--what about honor killings, stonings and hangings? The Economist's Democracy in America blog spins for the president. The French are hardly a model--having treated Algerians and others as second-class citizens for years, now they stand by passively at overtly anti-Semitic actions. And with the exception of Iran, the Saudis are probably the most backward of the big countries in its treatment of women. If you've read Hirsi Ali's book you would know.

In Cairo, at Al-Azhar, the president could have mentioned our very successful support for women in Afghanistan and Iraq. But that would have meant recognizing the contribution of the previous administration and our troops, who made the way for women safer. That was perhaps a bridge too far for our president.

More: Huffpo links--Cairo under siege, pre-speech by Egyptian blogger Hossam el-Hamalawy. Peter Daou speech reaction.