Saudis may give women right to vote

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BRITAIN_SAUDI_ARABIA?SITE=TXSAE&SECTION=INTERNATIONAL&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Women may be allowed to vote in future Saudi Arabian elections, but such political reforms must be implemented "gradually," the kingdom's foreign minister said Wednesday.

The Gulf nation, an absolute monarchy, recently held its first regular election, for city council members. But the vote was open only to men.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, in London for meetings with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and other officials, said his country's election commission had recommended women participate in the next vote.

<snip>

The Saudi royal family holds absolute power in the country and few dare challenge it. It governs based on strict Islamic law, and Saudis cannot hold public gatherings to discuss political or social issues

Rights are inalienable. They're (supposedly) backing off on authoritarian infringements on the exercise of those rights.

Maybe women will be able to drive by the year 2106 if this trend keeps up,

criticized for only leaning on certain nations in the region to democratize. Lip service only.

"Saudis cannot hold public gatherings to discuss political or social issues"

Sounds like the root of the problem.

One side of me says it's a lot easier to progress if they don't have to congregate in secret. Then thousands can show up to protests etc. and possibly exact change.

The other part says Machavelli was right and it's easier to throw out a dictatorship than a democracy. Problem is, I believe he was also right in that men change masters willingly in search of a better master. If they got rid of the royal family they may end up just instituting new dictators instead of a democracy.
(Getting rid of them would be killing them of course per machavellis advice or they can come back and claim rule when times are bad under then new gov)

I'm not for killing anyone btw. I just hope the saudis find a way to "throw off" their supressing government.

They may vote, but wil the votes be counted?

Window dressing!

sarcasm off...
Ann Arbor