Today's Washington Post has an excellent article on the lawsuit by Air Force Lt. Col. Martha McSally's lawsuit contending that the U.S. policy that women stationed in Saudi Arabia wear the dress of the women in that nation, and follow the strict Islamic customs is in violation of the First Amendment.

Women in Saudi Arabia must wear clothing similar to, but not quite as confining, as the burka that was required under Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Women must not drive a car. They must ride in the back seat.

While I may not agree with having women flying combat aircraft (McSally flies an A-10 Warthog) -- call me old-fashioned. I also don't think that she should be forced into wearing this Islamic garb -- men stationed in Saudi Arabia are not required to wear turbans.

The (National Cathedral School) girls ask smart and tough questions. They hunt for compromise. They question her timing. "In this time of heightened hostility, isn't this a safety issue?" one asks. "I recently heard about force protection."

McSally asks them to envision the scenario the policy outlines -- an American woman covered head to toe in black, surrounded in downtown Riyadh by studly blond guys in crewcuts and jeans. "We hardly blend in," she says with a broad smile, and everybody cracks up at the image.

Here in America, another girl ventures, we accept people from other countries and don't disrespect those peoples' cultures. "So isn't it a question of respect, for you to not adopt their dress?" she asks.

"Here's the difference," parries McSally. "We let them choose to wear whatever they wish. When you value people, you give them freedom. That is who we are."

The military she loves has stripped her of that choice, McSally suggests. She is an observant Christian required against her will to represent herself as an adherent of a religion, Islam, which is not her own. Her attorneys, who have been hired by the Rutherford Institute, best known for its role in Paula Jones's suit against President Clinton, contend the abaya policy violates her First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and religion.

"If it were in our national security to deploy to South Africa under apartheid, would we have found it acceptable or customary to segregate African American soldiers from other American soldiers, and say, 'It's just a cultural thing?' " McSally asks. "I don't think so. I would hope not.

"When those customs and values conflict with ones that our Constitution is based on, and that women and men in uniform died for in the past, that is where you draw the line."

Once again we see the difference between a Christian-created, secular nation like the United States and those ruled by Islam. Tolerance vsl. Intolerance. Freedom vs. Oppression.

"We can respect their customs," she says. "We don't need to impose their values and faith on us."