"Sharia" Gone A.W.O.L.

CNN has an impassioned, well-argued plea from an international human rights lawyer protesting the imminent stoning to death of a woman in Iran (for the "crime" of adultery). Shockingly--but not surprisingly--never once does it spell out the name of the law under which she is facing execution (s-h-a-r-i-a). Nor, for that matter, does a Foggy Bottom functionary, who offers this shrewd analysis:

"We have grave concerns that the punishment does not fit the alleged crime," Assistant Secretary of State P.J. Crowley recently said in a statement. "For a modern society such as Iran, we think this raises significant human rights concerns."

Calling Iran's judicial system "disproportionate" in the disparate treatment of the nation's women, Crowley said, "From the United States' standpoint, we don't think putting women to death for adultery is an appropriate punishment."

It's perfectly appropriate, however, from sharia's "standpoint". Which is rather the, er, point, wouldn't you say?