PROGRESS, WE HOPE - AT 9:19 A.M. ET: 

KABUL (AP) -- Responding to criticism from around the world, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Saturday that a new law that critics say makes it legal for men to rape their wives will be studied and possibly sent back to parliament for review.

Karzai said he ordered the Justice Ministry to review the law, and if anything in it contravenes the country's constitution or Shariah law, ''measures will be taken.''

The law, signed by Karzai last month, is intended to regulate family life inside Afghanistan's Shiite community, which makes up 10 percent to 20 percent of the country's 30 million people.

COMMENT:  This is a classic example of what media exposure can do, and bloggers played a major role.  We'll follow this to be sure the obnoxious legislation dies a fast death.  Americans are not going to have their troops defend the indefensible.

April 4, 2009