It was so close to perfect. Nicholas Kristof writes a scathing piece about the disgusting - no inhuman - treatment of women in the third world. The pitch is perfect. The tone was so personal that I myself wanted to protect the Pakistani woman in the story from personal harm.

And then to end the story he spouts his usual line of liberal claptrap on what he thinks we need to do to make sure this type of thing doesn't happen anymore.

We in the West could help chip away at that oppression, with health and literacy programs and by simply speaking out against it, just as we once stood up against slavery and totalitarianism.

Health and literacy programs?!? Speaking out?!? Does he have any freaking clue how many MILLIONS of people died in war fighting to end slavery and totalitarianism??? Also, if he thinks that these things ended because of people who "spoke out" - there were after all strong abolitionist and pro-human rights groups in existence - none of it came about until these people were attacked physically by the forces of darkness, when it was almost too late to salvage their own societies.

How the hell are "we in the West" supposed to fund and manage health and literacy programs to the other 80% of the world's population? And in societies that don't give rights to women (assuming anyone has any rights), how could we ever ensure that these services get to women at all and don't provide even more of an advantage to the men?

If Kristof had any balls, he would tell the men who want to kill Mukhtaran Bibi that while he is building the local library and health clinic, should any harm come to Mukhtaran, or anyone in her family, that he will be sure to bring in the US Marines and kill every single one of them, but not without first having their balls cut off and served to them on a bed of lettuce for breakfast. No, better yet, serve them someone elses balls on a bed of lettuce while having them watch someone else eat their own.

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And if you don't think this kind of thing works in the real world, here is a story about Ronald Reagan (thanks to Zarq for the link to this article - although I'm sure his intent was not for it to be used in this way!)

When running against Jimmy Carter, in 1980, Reagan was asked to name the current President of Iran, which was then holding Americans hostage. "Well, I don't know his name," Reagan replied with a smile. "But let me tell you, if I become President, he's going to get to know mine."

The hostages were freed the moment Reagan was sworn into office.