Feminist at Home, Subservient Abroad

San Fran Nan is getting two thumbs down regarding her trip for a lot of reasons, none the least of which was her choice of dress (from Political Diary):

Nancy Pelosi: I'll Go Anywhere, Wear Anything to Embarrass the President

Nancy Pelosi's trip to Syria is certainly stirring up controversy. Despite a request from President Bush not to go, the House Speaker made it clear she has the authority to speak for the country. As Rep. Tom Lantos, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who accompanied her, put it: "We have an alternative Democratic foreign policy."

But part of that foreign policy has disturbed some feminists who look up to her as an icon. Ms. Pelosi donned a flowered headscarf and a black abaya robe as she visited a local 8th-century mosque. "Feminist at home, subservient abroad," was how one blogger put it.

It's certainly true U.S. diplomats often respect local customs as they carry out their duties, but Ms. Pelosi's attire still touched a raw nerve among many. I recall the late Italian leftist writer Oriana Fallaci being so disgusted with the excuses she heard from Iran's Ayatollah Ruhallah Khomeini about his nation's sponsorship of terrorism that she tore off her headscarf and threw it in his face -- an act of supreme impudence.

No one expects Ms. Pelosi to pattern her behavior after the fearless Ms. Fallaci. But her willingness to adapt her behavior to the wishes of Syria, a leading terrorist-sponsoring nation in the Middle East, will not go unnoticed by America's enemies. The Syrians will no doubt try to exploit the fissures that Ms. Pelosi's trip, along with Mr. Lantos' unilateral declaration of foreign policy independence, has exposed in U.S. foreign policy. For all of the awkward symbolism shown by Ms. Pelosi's wearing of a headscarf, the real tragedy of her trip is that Syrians will no doubt be more convinced than ever that America is divided and that Syria's leaders are likely to win the waiting game for power in the region if they continue their current behavior.

Even the Reform Party of Syria is blasting her choice of dress. No word yet from Mr. Blackwell.