>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. "In the meantime we must deal with the world as it is. Not all nations are presently Liberal Democracies. Pakistan is not a Liberal Democracy. We know that. Everyone knows that. We must deal with Pakistan as it exists, not as we would like it to be." <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< a bit relativist, this. OK, that's not fair. But we can try to signal that we would like it to change, as people have been doing during Musharraf's current visit hereabouts. Tomorrow, a Briton cleared of murder twice but convicted by a religious court (one sharia judge dissenting) is due to be executed in Pakistan. We know about him because he's British. Most people in this situation in Pakistan presumably simply go to their deaths in silence. Please read this piece: http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article1772359.ece In Pakistan, rape is dealt with under Islamic law. There are moves to change this, but I doubt they will succeed. Here is one of many media reports on the situation: http://www.guardian.co.uk/pakistan/Story/0,,1874358,00.html (perhaps next time you accuse feminists of ignoring Islam/women you could remember this -- I'll try to remember to post links to the outcry among feminists in the US re the rape of Mukhtaran Mai....) Pakistan under its current regime is as it were in the vanguard of torture http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1883582,00.html while doing deals with militant Islamists who probably count as terrorists http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,,1883737,00.html Judy Evans, Cardiff