I was speaking of being stoned to death for the events at Abu Ghraib, none of which would draw a death penalty in the United States of America. If we take this to other crimes, such as looting, we can expect demands that the right hands of our troops be severed from their wrists in the public square. And torturing someone to death would call for our troops to be drawn and quartered, again in the public square.

One of our best punishments for Middle East criminals here who enjoy diplomatic immunity here is to receive guarantees they would be prosecuted once returned to their home nation. What their own kinsmen would then be permitted to do to them is often far more grueling than anything we could ever legally consider.

For example, how terrible can a real-estate deal be? Did you know that, according to The Palestinian Law of Property for Foreigners, Palestinians who sell land to Jews may be punished with death -- while foreigners who sell Palestinian land to Jews may be punished with life in prison?

Do I digress? I don't think so. I'm only being as prejudice in believing this to be the true Arab mindset as the unraveled Arabs are that the West is an evil land.

For the education of my prejudice, I lived in the very civilized Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mary Anne, and it's a little different than here.

As always, cheers to you and yours,
Dan