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Politics : America Under Siege: The End of Innocence -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: joseph krinsky who wrote (13686)	2/28/2002 5:48:33 PM
From: White Bear	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 27666

Thay's it in a nut shell.

To: joseph krinsky who wrote (13686)	2/28/2002 5:57:39 PM
From: lorne	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 27666

Government Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuit Challenging Muslim Garb Requirement for Servicewomen in Saudi Arabia By Matt Kelley Associated Press Writer Published: Feb 28, 2002 WASHINGTON (AP) - Government lawyers asked a judge on Thursday to dismiss a female fighter pilot's lawsuit over restrictions on U.S. servicewomen in Saudi Arabia, saying the military had dropped all of the rules. The pilot's lawyer said she would press ahead with the suit, since servicewomen in the conservative Muslim kingdom are still strongly encouraged to wear Muslim robes, ride in the back seats of vehicles and have men accompany them while off base. "We think that is going to be very coercive," said lawyer John Whitehead of the Rutherford Institute. Whitehead represents Air Force Lt. Col. Martha McSally, who sued the Defense Department in federal court over the regulations. McSally said the former requirements were unconstitutional because they improperly forced American women to conform to another country's religious and social customs. The federal judge hearing the case will decide later whether it should be dismissed. In January, the military dropped the requirement that servicewomen traveling off base in Saudi Arabia wear a head-to-toe robe called an abaya. Officials later dropped requirements that military women be accompanied by men and ride in the back seats of cars while off base. Military officials have said the decision was not a result of the lawsuit. Whitehead said he was skeptical. "We want the judge to make sure this isn't just a media blitz they've conducted," he said. McSally, the highest-ranking female fighter pilot in the Air Force, now works as an instructor at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz. Gen. Tommy Franks, commander of U.S. military forces in the region that includes Saudi Arabia, defended the decision in an appearance before a House panel Wednesday. In remarks to the House Armed Services Committee, Franks said Saudi officials had not discussed the issue with him. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., criticized McSally's lawsuit and asked Franks if she would be punished. Franks said McSally had done nothing wrong. "Col. McSally is a very competent airman," Franks said. "I would propose no judicial action against Col. McSally at all." ap.tbo.com