Harry Reid, referring to President Bush.

There’s an interesting exchange posted over at Power Line between John H. and Terry Neal of WaPo.

It’s haiku day. Fark’s got a thread going. (No guarantee of the appropriateness of the content for MZ reader-base, but some amusing stuff, nonetheless).

Feel free to add yours in my comments if you want!

‘Pleasure marriages’ regain popularity in Iraq:

The 1,400-year-old practice of muta’a— “ecstasy” in Arabic — is as old as Islam itself. It was permitted by the prophet Mohammed as a way to ensure a respectable means of income for widowed women.

Pleasure marriages were outlawed under Saddam Hussein but have begun to flourish again. The contracts, lasting anywhere from one hour to 10 years, generally stipulate that the man will pay the woman in exchange for sexual intimacy. Now some Iraqi clerics and women’s rights activists are complaining that the contracts have become less a mechanism for taking care of widows than an outlet for male sexual desires.

Reactions from various perspectives around the blogosphere:

CampusProgress says:

How will religious conservatives in America react to this religious tradition in Iraq? Could we see a constitutional marriage amendment in the new free Iraq to define marriage? Will Rick Santorum storm through Iraqi cities on a traditional marriage tour? Conservatives like to exploit their role in bringing “freedom” to Iraq, but mum might be the word on this newest freedom

Amanda Marcotte:

I mean, is it really that different from the American one-night-stand? It may be–I don’t know. But there is room here for the possibility that women who do this aren’t always victims, but that some are making a little space for themselves for a pleasure they can’t obtain in other ways. Just a thought.

Running Scared:

At first I thought this might just be another sign of the Westernization of the Middle East, but who knew that Prophet Mohammed was such a progressive, forward thinking guy? I’m waiting for the first American guy to try that line on his wife.

Blue Meme:

Since this policy seems entirely consistent with the “marriage is between one man and one woman” thing, I can’t see how Dubya, Spongedob, or any of their ilk can have a problem with it.

On the other hand, if they do object, it will be hard to blame anyone other than … ourselves. Or the flowering of democracy. Take your pick.

tdaxp:

When the future Islamic Republic has more personal liberty than the United States…

HyScience calls it a “Sham and a Shame.” The Narrow says:

Is infidelity appealing to you? If so, present day Iraq just may be the place for you. Have religious issues with infidelity? No problem, just convert to Islam and you’re good to go.

Tommie Hustle:

I’m trying to find out why these guys didn’t rise up against Saddam earlier. I mean he was holding out on the God approved side nookie! I tell you this much, I’m sure religious prostitution wasn’t in the President’s mind when was thinking of regime change.

And from a blog called “Islam-victory ALLAH IS GREAT” we find a serious theological discussion of the Mut’ah.

Seems people are seeing pictures of “Jesus” or “Mary” everywhere these days. From the underpass in Chicago to a grilled cheese sandwich, and now to this ultrasound.

There are some clever comments on this over at Pandagon.