Rice calls Karzai on apostasy case

No, Abdul Rahman is not out of his noodle. And neither is this Afghani Christian, who converted from Islam sixteen years ago, going to be executed for doing so.

Yes, Afghani clerics are indeed calling for his head- literally- and it's doubtful whether he could survive his release in what is still a primitive and backward society where the Taliban are a lot closer to mainstream than we can readily appreciate in the West.

But Secretary of State Condi Rice personally telephoned Afghani President Hamid Karzai today to add her voice to that of President Bush in calling for the Karzai's government to ensure Rahman's freedom and safety.

Rice pointed out that despite its lip service to Sharia (Islamic religious law), the Afghani Constitution specifically guarantees freedom of religion.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist put it well: "It is fair to say that the United States has not spent the last four plus years liberating, defending, rebuilding and assisting Afghanistan's democratic development only to see the Afghani people remain subject to laws reminiscent of the Taliban's reign."

Ain't gonna happen, folks.