First, delightful as they may be, I don't regard bars as progress any more than I'd regard an opium den progress. They may be a measure of "freedom" to you, but in a Muslim country they could easily be seen as an indicator of anarchy and chaos. Just as an opium den in Washington, DC, might be considered by the Southern Baptist Conference. Whoopee!

Second, did you notice this is a patrol, armed, folks covering his back? Sort of like John McCain wandering through a market with body armor? And reporters with photographers happening to be covering both events?

Nope, Lee, I hate progress too much to give you this one, though I'll grant that to you the freedom to screw over your consciousness must seem very attractive. If I had yours, I'd want to mess it up as far and fast as possible, too.

Arf