How is it okay for the wealthy women to be driven around by male employees who are not related to them? Isn't that a no-no?

Hmm... Anonymous on anonymous hate is never pretty, but this one's too good. We've got one racial-slurred, hate-filled invective, followed by another racial-slurred, hate-filled invective slamming the first for being exactly what it is. Ah, irony.

Made me smile.

Is this supposed to be outrageous or just amusing? I mean, given the context and everything I'd say this just might be a good thing, insofar as it can drive (puns - ha) pressure for change. Is that naive? Better women are riding in the backseat in cars they like and have chosen and that acknowledge them. I guess. It's the implied double standard - looking the other way for wealthy women - that's present in so many Islamic countries that bothers me more. I can't speak to whether that dynamic is at play in Saudi, though I'd guess it is.

Oh I understand we all have to pretend that our recycled flax bags are stuffed with nice thoughts, tolerance and no fat macrobiotic horseshit but truly, if there was no oil under their fat asses none of them would rise to the heights of the 9th century. Even by backwards lunatic Arab state standards the Saudis are insane, primitive, intolerant and cruel. If you wanted to end the Saudi regime give out 1 million M-16's to the women and it would be over in 9 days, tops. You have to understand that this is a country that barely managed to outlaw most forms of slavery by 1963. A 'country' that is literally the personal property of 7,000 princes to do with whatever they like. This year alone they publically executed about 200 men and women with a sword for various sexual crimes such as adultery and homosexuality.

But if Salon editors want to redact that out of the letters, then fine. They're your problem, you cope with it, or shut the hell up and pretend they're nice guys, like everyone else does.

so what is the point of this piece? Who really gives a damn about the driving rights of Saudi women? Lets just get the oil out from under then and let the people of SA lash, amputate, stone and hang each other till the country is dry then we can nuke it