JC Chairman Mike Mullen believes Guantanamo needs to closed because its prisoner abuses harmed America’s image:
- Joint Chiefs Chairman: Close Guantanamo (Associated Press/The Guardian)
Bush continues his tour of the Middle East and revives his rhetoric of regional democracy promotion, but is likely to contradict himself by reaffirming his close relationship with Saudi Arabia despite its human rights abuses:
- Bush Nudges Mideast on Democracy (Washington Post)
- Bush to Reaffirm Strong Ties with Saudi Arabia (Reuters/Washington Post)
Religious scholars and academics find Indonesia has more work to do on embracing religious pluralism despite its advancements:
- Indonesia Still Struggling to Embrace Pluralism: Scholars (The Jakarta Post)
Despite possible government complicity in his wife Benazir’s death, Ali Asif Zardari does not rule out working with Musharraf, however ordinary Pakistanis want the dictator-in-chief out of office:
- Bhutto Party May Work with Musharraf (Associated Press/New York Times)
- Many Pakistanis See Leader As Having Reigned Too Long (Washington Post)
American women living in Saudi Arabia deal with the trade-offs of dealing with cultural patriarchy and political authoritarianism masquerading as religion for a safer, family-centered life:
- Pursuing Happiness Behind the Veil (Los Angeles Times)
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