A Little Toughness Can Go A Long Way

Gulf News reminds us that even limited, half-assed pressure from the United States can compel our Middle Eastern allies to make substantial changes:

Washington rarely makes public criticism of Saudi Arabia over its political and human rights record. But Bush spoke out against a Saudi court verdict condemning a gang rape victim to 200 lashes in a case that provoked international outcry in November.

Last month, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz , promoted as a reformer in the Saudi media, issued a “pardon” to the 19-year-old woman whom hardline cleric-judges blamed for being with an unrelated man when she was kidnapped by her seven attackers.