Hirsi Stays, Government Goes

Ayaan Hirsi Ali,as it turns out, didn't violate Dutch law after all when she immigrated under an assumed name.

[Netherlands Immigration and Integration Minister, Rita] Verdonk has now sent a letter to parliament in which she says that it was acceptable for Ayaan Hirsi Ali to use this particular name because, according to Somali tradition, she was and is allowed to use the name Ali since, "her old grandfather, who fathered Hirsi Ali's own father when he was 90 years old, was known by the name Ali during the early part of his life."

The flap over the case has, however, brought down the Dutch government.

So, she's legal for now but as far as I can tell she still plans to immigrate to America. Our red carpet is still out.