Letter: White House’s lack of outrage is outrageous

Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007 | 7:29 a.m.

Surely by now we're all aware of the recent incident in Saudi Arabia, where a young rape victim is being punished severely for the crime committed against her. In particular, though, our national leaders are being exceptionally silent about this. I find that disturbing and hypocritical.

Indeed, in 2001 Laura Bush said, "All of us have an obligation to speak out. We may come from different backgrounds and faiths - but parents the world over love our children. We respect our mothers, our sisters and daughters. Fighting brutality against women and children is not the expression of a specific culture; it is the acceptance of our common humanity - a commitment shared by people of good will on every continent."

She said that as part of a justification for our invasion of Afghanistan. But now, because it's Saudi Arabia, the reigning administration refuses to publicly condemn what's going on. For those of you who keep whining about "Bush haters," maybe you should ask yourselves why we should have love for this administration. Why are they silent? Why is this suddenly not our business, and how can you justify the morality of all of this? This is the country we call our ally? You would stand by silently if this were your mother, wife, sister or daughter? Where is our great leader to express moral outrage about this?

Timothy James, Las Vegas