In response to calls for European perspectives on current events I have taken the liberty to translate and post a whole article from today's edition of my local newspaper, Bergens Tidende. It tells a story not often heard in the US media, namely, how the rule of Saddam Hussein represented giant strides for women's liberation in Iraq. Partly reversed during the 1990s to appease religious opposition in the face of sanctions, these are now at risk both from the reigning chaos and the imminent election.
Update [2005-1-29 11:16:15 by Sirocco]: Formerly: 'Saddam was a feminist hero'