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December 23, 2005
Wafa bint Yelsam Bin Laden (bint Dufour) [added link and de rigeur illustration, plus further reflexions]
An odd piece of news. GQ is doing a sexy spread of Wafa Dufour (Bin Laden) (also see the online partial arty at GQ)
Not sure if this is a good idea or not (probably not, although the facile like Andrew Sullivan will trumpet it), but it is interesting.
By the way, the arty says Yeslam spells his name differently. No, he transcribes it differently. Who can blame him, given even the looney Left has it out for his fams.
To reflect further, given my long and moderately disreputable engagement in the MENA region, as an executive and then financier (if the word is not too fancy, else, finance drone), I am far from convinced (as many seem to be, recall the Leb [slut] Babes to do during the Beirut intefada in Spring 2005) that Arab women dressing in ... well pop slut fashion reflects any real gains or anything at all.
I recall rather vividly a long time ago speaking with a (actually rather hot come to think of it) librarian in the Maghreb who complained bitterly that when she put on her miniskirt, she gained nothing but the right to be harassed.
This was in the context of Islamist protests on the uni campus being led (it was my surprised and then naive observation) by muhajebat - not wearing I may add the Saudi style burqah type nonsense, but the modern hair scarf to do. I was impressed. Taught me a lesson about simple minded equations.
Rather too often, whether for women (far more common) or for men, the naive and gullible Westerner seems to think "looks like me" = "thinks like me" and by extension "is trustworthy, etc."
It is a bit of naive gullibility, the sort of Tottenesque (or more importantly, Tom Friedman of the stupid moustache) self-dupery.
Now, mind you, I mind not the fashion. I was most upset when my office lost much of its Leb Slut Fashion girls, but they hardly represent progress, and may indeed retard real progress for women. I still like them, of course, and I can hardly complain when my JV partner wears her far, far too tight white t-shirts (leading me to reflect on Med Basin genes for women and bust size) and I should never badger her over that (although this whole cancer thing I hope does not send her off into religiousity and hidjabs - well actually what do I care, so long as she continues to turn a blind eye to my scummy haram behaviours).
Back to Wafa.
Well, I shall, for pure expat scumminess have acquire the article, but I should think it might not have been the wisest of moves for her....
Well, I take that back. If she's aiming for a Paris Hilton type celebrity, it probably will work.
I just hope some deluded twit of an Akh doesn't take a whack at her for it. I can assure readers I have seen far worse on the streets of Beirut and Casablanca.
Posted by The Lounsbury at December 23, 2005 08:09 PM
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Tracked on December 23, 2005 09:24 PM
Comments
The GQ spread was the main feature this morning in The Metro, the free newspaper available on the underground trains in London. I also remember a while ago she was interviewed and sang (rather flatly) on 60 Minutes. Interestingly, the heading of the article in The Metro was 'Her Uncle Would Have Her Stoned for This'.
Posted by: Meph at December 23, 2005 08:48 PM
For the poor singing?
Posted by: The Lounsbury at December 23, 2005 08:52 PM
Well I am sure there would be a case against the singing as well (flat or not) but maybe lying half naked in a bath or sprawled on a bed covered by a guitar may have something do to with it. Having said that, to assume that she is also married and has committed adultery is rather a harsh extrapolation on the part of the newspaper.
Posted by: Meph at December 23, 2005 09:05 PM
"I recall rather vividly a long time ago speaking with a (actually rather hot come to think of it) librarian in the Maghreb who complained bitterly that when she put on her miniskirt, she gained nothing but the right to be harassed."
{Sniff, sniff, weep} our L . . . has gone . . . {sniff} and become . . . a feminist!
Damn, DAMN, that cancer and the narcotics!
Posted by: matthew hogan at December 23, 2005 09:46 PM
Somwhat more seriously, if cleavage and hot skirts and overt female sensuality were the barometer of liberty, Latin America would be the beacon of world progress and human rights.
Ms. bin-Laden represents less a cultural revolutionary than an aspiring model/actress/singer in the West who is hoping for a lucrative career and has no access to family wealth. I sincerely wish her luck, and why not trade on her name?
Posted by: matthew hogan at December 23, 2005 09:51 PM
I can't wait for the perfume.
You step off the escalator at Bloomingdale's. An attractive woman in a blue smock asks, "would you like to try bin Laden?"
Posted by: blown cue at December 24, 2005 04:04 AM
she's the new face of terrorism. and boy is she hot!
i'm glad you've found something to keep yourself busy with, L. bin Laden pornography!
Posted by: drdougfir at December 24, 2005 04:09 AM
Ouafa. If she names it Ouafa or Ouapha it works.
Feminist? Me?
Posted by: The Lounsbury at December 24, 2005 04:46 AM
Feminist? Me?
"I was most upset when my office lost much of its Leb Slut Fashion girls, but they hardly represent progress, and may indeed retard real progress for women."
QED. Case closed.
Posted by: matthew hogan at December 24, 2005 08:30 PM
Hmmm, it depends on what value I put on 'progress.'
Posted by: collounsbury at December 24, 2005 09:48 PM
"or more importantly, Tom Friedman of the stupid moustache"
Well said, well said.
Posted by: mark safranski at December 25, 2005 05:40 PM
I am a moron who's childish original comment needed to be replaced by this one announcing the same to teach me note to leave such idiotic comments on The Lounsbury - 'Aqoul site.
Posted by: Mido at December 29, 2005 02:49 AM
