Did George Bush notice?
Commentary by Warner M.Montgomery Warner@thecolumbiastar.com

President Bush is on an official visit to our allies in the Middle East. This week he dropped down in Saudi Arabia and announced another gigantic sale of military equipment to the Saudi royal family (the government).

A friend of mine in Saudi Arabia on a three- month government contract recently sent me an email describing his experience there. Since there were no theaters, cinemas, pubs, nightclubs, or arcades in which to spend his spare time, he visited a football stadium- sized shopping mall where he found Baskins Robbins, Starbucks, McDonalds, and 600 other western- style shops along with six major American department stores. A paradise on the edge of the desert.

My friend also realized a shocking truth about this major U.S. ally: it is a theocratic, anti- democratic kingdom, a true antithesis to American liberty and freedom. Women and non- Muslims are tightly controlled by Saudi law, which is enforced by the "Religion Police."

For example, women must be covered in black in public and are not allowed to be seen in public without their husbands or male relatives. Women are not allowed to work in areas where they might come in contact with men such as restaurants and clothing stores. Hospitals are an exception since most of the nurses and doctors are women and universities where 70 percent of the students are women.

The checkout counters for

Msheonp Os innl yt,hWe ommaelln a Oren slyegregated for , and Families

Only. So are the seating areas in restaurants. To further "protect" their women, the Saudi government does not allow them to drive, travel abroad, or socialize with foreign men (much to the regret of my friend).

Another reality of Saudi life hit my friend while enjoying a cone of mint chocolate ice cream on his first visit to the mall. A recorded voice announced prayer time, the lights dimmed, and the stores closed their doors. Muslims rushed to the in- mall mosques and all non- Muslims, including my friend, were ushered outside.

I wonder if George Bush noticed these things.