Anyone suspicious about Saudi Arabia?

Chrongen

It seems now that on the TV there are quite a few advertisements for tourist holidays in places like Mauritania.

Now this country has been a place that has "if you read between the lines" a been a haven for terrorists. Now, however, it is being feted as a tourist hotspot.

Saudi Arabia is also, all of a sudden, becoming some kind of exotic place. Women can drive and can also sell falafel if they wish to so do.

Who is controlling Saudi Arabia?

Arghus

Well if they have the women selling falafel you're dead right to be concerned about the place.

Dead fcking right OP!

kneemos

The **** is falafel?

Peregrinus

kneemos wrote: »

The **** is falafel?

A common food from the Middle East, now widespread in the western world. Uusally made from chickpeas. If you've never heard of falafel, you're probably not part of the target market for Saudi Arabian tourism ads.

Zebra3

Chrongen wrote: »

Who is controlling Saudi Arabia?

The Saudi dictatorship. Known in the West as the Saudi Royal Family.

They chop people’s heads off and support extremist Islamic terrorism.

They are also besties with the West.

This may all seem like incredibly hypocritical, but remember, it’s not an issue. Those In Charge have decreed this is a situation where calls for human rights and democracy are not needed.

Now, where’s those Russian bastards?

RobbingBandit

The police of vice and virtue will be along soon to arrest anyone asking questions. Praise be to the house of Saud

smurfjed

Saudi Arabia is undergoing massive changes under the present King and his son the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, as a 32 year old he is rushing to change his country for the huge population of youth. Woman shall be finally permitted to drive starting in June, the first cinema shall open in about a week and won't be segregated. Women have historically owned over half the wealth and are actively involved in every type of business that you can think of. The religious police aren't seen on the streets nor mentioned in the papers. The famed abaya or cloak is now a clothing item of choice. They shall start granting tourist visas this summer and have started to build Neom as a resort town that will challenge Sharm.
As for financing terrorism, they have introduced strict controls on the transfer of money and have closed many of the means of collecting cash for causes, just the same as the NORAID boxes disappeared from US bars.
The country is moving forward and its quite impressive to watch.

diomed

I would go there if I got a free holiday.

CarlosHarpic

They did 9/11 and were never held accountable for it.

I always found this very odd.

Kermit.de.frog

So much uninformed nonsense starting with the OP.

The new prince is in fact liberalising the country but it takes time. It is happening quite comparatively fast now with the new leadership. But try to keep up.

Zebra3

CarlosHarpic wrote: »

They did 9/11 and were never held accountable for it.

I always found this very odd.

Not really. $$$$$$

McMurphy

Arghus wrote: »

Well if they have the women selling falafel you're dead right to be concerned about the place.

Dead fcking right OP!

Women selling Falafel today, but the women in Saudi Arabia,.due to a stupid ban, do not sell Flintstones memorabilia, yet the ones in Abu Dhabi do.

Poor Uncle Tom

The oil is running out, tourism is where the real money is at.........

Hande hoche!

The people of Yemen are probably fairly suspicious as regards the Saudis.

Hercule Poirot

Sure what's the worst that could happen? You get killed in a terrorist attack or you get kidnapped; either way you get your picture in the paper so it's a win win!

mariaalice

Id say the crown prince sat down and had a think, go backward or go forwards better options going forward don't know anything about Saudi Arabia but does it have many options for tourism beaches etc?

He seems to be going a bit fast at it though.

antodeco

mariaalice wrote: »

He seems to be going a bit fast at it though.

And thats another thing, very lax speeding restrictions!

Guy:Incognito

Visit california run adds too, with celebrities . Those dodgy Welsh are at it as well.


Bloody tourist destinations, trying to lure us with their touristy goodness.

First Up

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

The oil is running out, tourism is where the real money is at.........

How many tourists do they need to replace $200 billion a year in oil exports?

Zaph

mariaalice wrote: »

don't know anything about Saudi Arabia but does it have many options for tourism beaches etc?

Well sand isn't an issue for them, so they should be ok for beaches for the foreseeable future.

scopper

Chrongen wrote: »

It seems now that on the TV there are quite a few advertisements for tourist holidays in places like Mauritania.

Now this country has been a place that has "if you read between the lines" a been a haven for terrorists. Now, however, it is being feted as a tourist hotspot.

Saudi Arabia is also, all of a sudden, becoming some kind of exotic place. Women can drive and can also sell falafel if they wish to so do.

Who is controlling Saudi Arabia?

Their modernizing prince needs to reinvent the economy, steering it away from oil toward tourism and whatever else he can. Hence the opening up of society.

Never underestimate how money can change a culture. If the Saudis want to choose between money and Islam they will choose money in the end.

Odhinn

Chrongen wrote: »

It seems now that on the TV there are quite a few advertisements for tourist holidays in places like Mauritania.

Now this country has been a place that has "if you read between the lines" a been a haven for terrorists. Now, however, it is being feted as a tourist hotspot.

Saudi Arabia is also, all of a sudden, becoming some kind of exotic place. Women can drive and can also sell falafel if they wish to so do.

Who is controlling Saudi Arabia?

Ah reckon it's some of them there A-rabs.

seamus

kneemos wrote: »

The **** is falafel?

Only the greatest food ever invented. Where the hell have you been?

The Backwards Man

I read somewhere that the mad prince wants to capture the sun and imprison it for their own perverse pleasures.

Either that or they're going solar.

Odhinn

seamus wrote: »

Only the greatest food ever invented. Where the hell have you been?

Stoned again and on the mars bars, I'd say. He won't remember this conversation in a week either.

Jimbob1977

Slavery is still practiced in Mauritania (unofficially).

Light-skinned Moors treat many black-skinned Senegalese as indentured labourers and virtual slaves.

You never hear about air strikes in Nouakchott

ohnonotgmail

Chrongen wrote: »

It seems now that on the TV there are quite a few advertisements for tourist holidays in places like Mauritania.

Now this country has been a place that has "if you read between the lines" a been a haven for terrorists. Now, however, it is being feted as a tourist hotspot.

Saudi Arabia is also, all of a sudden, becoming some kind of exotic place. Women can drive and can also sell falafel if they wish to so do.

Who is controlling Saudi Arabia?

are you sure you didnt misread Mauritius?

mcmoustache

Chrongen wrote: »

It seems now that on the TV there are quite a few advertisements for tourist holidays in places like Mauritania.

Now this country has been a place that has "if you read between the lines" a been a haven for terrorists. Now, however, it is being feted as a tourist hotspot.

Saudi Arabia is also, all of a sudden, becoming some kind of exotic place. Women can drive and can also sell falafel if they wish to so do.

Who is controlling Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia has been on a PR blitz in the western world lately. The crown prince has been giving interviews and buying ads all over the place.

My guess is that he's aware of the rotten reputation that the backward country has and is trying to change how Saudi Arabia is perceived. It may also be important at this time because they are arsing around in Yemen, Syria and who knows where else.

In short, it's a shítty country trying to convince the world that it's not ****ty.

Hammer89

kneemos wrote: »

The **** is falafel?

It's not very nice. I've just had some and now I falafel.

zom

Since when we have so much sympathy for bloody dictatorships like that? Ohh well, they sell us gas and oil cheaply, sure they can't be that bad then. Not for as long as we need oil and gas and they have it.

Wouldn't go there even for free. Same as Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan or other bloody dictatorship driven state.

As for falafel, you can get one in Dunnes : http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5556/15294060691_27b64953af_z.jpg
It is great with tahini paste.

riffmongous

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

are you sure you didnt misread Mauritius?

:pac:

endacl

kneemos wrote: »

The **** is falafel?

A word that look s like it should be a palindrome, but suspiciously isn’t.

whisky_galore

smurfjed wrote: »

They shall start granting tourist visas this summer and have started to build Neom as a resort town that will challenge Sharm.
The country is moving forward and its quite impressive to watch.

Any sign of a bar there yet, no?

I wonder if they'll stop torturing their slaves too

Grayson

Chrongen wrote: »

Who is controlling Saudi Arabia?

The Saudi Royal family and in particular the crown prince?

is it a trick question. I thought this was well known and not a secret or anything.

And yeah, it's a bit of a ****hole. About the best thing you can say is that it's not north korea.

super_furry

Ah lads if you've never had a falafel, preferably with grilled halloumi and chilli sauce, you're missing out.

CrankyHaus

The Saudis are hurting from several years of low oil prices, have had to cut back state largesse as a result and have a serious problem with fundamentalist Islam that they pandered to since the early 80s but which remains a potential threat to their rule. So their dynamic young crown prince MBS has:

Shaken down a bunch of rich Saudis by locking them in a luxury hotel until they liquidated assets and rendered unto Caesar. He's up $100 billion as a result. He's also managed to purge threats to his rule while presenting this as an anti - corruption drive that's popular with many Saudis (a smart idea borrowed from Xi Jinping).

Been a driving force behind the intervention in Yemen, where refugee camps have been bombed and a blockade has created a humanitarian crisis to rival that in Syria. To keep the war going he's had to buy lots more bombs and such from the US and the UK, making him their new BFF: witness Trump's volte face from campaigning on an anti-SA platform to embracing the kingdom nowadays.

Introduced, or talked of introducing, liberalising reforms. These are required to maintain western support and business confidence (especially after he jacked Saudi's richest for $100 billion). He may also genuinely feel the Kingdom's alliance with fundamentalist islam was a mistake and has run its course. Whether these reforms are anything but window dressing remains to be seen. However the unchallenged autocratic rule of the Saud family is not up for discussion, regardless of whether a billionaire's wife is allowed to drive her hummer to the mall or not.

Poor Uncle Tom

First Up wrote: »

How many tourists do they need to replace $200 billion a year in oil exports?

When the black gold runs out, even one tourist will do!

smurfjed

How many tourists do they need to replace $200 billion a year in oil exports?

Are they seeking to recover the revenue stream or create jobs for their massive population of youth?

mrcheez

Chrongen wrote: »

Now this country has been a place that has "if you read between the lines" a been a haven for terrorists. Now, however, it is being feted as a tourist hotspot.

What? Norn Iron?


:pac:

First Up

smurfjed wrote: »

How many tourists do they need to replace $200 billion a year in oil exports?

Are they seeking to recover the revenue stream or create jobs for their massive population of youth?

Both - and more.

There's a major strategic plan to transform the country - Saudi Vision 2030 - that you can read about if you are interested.

the purple tin

kneemos wrote: »

The **** is falafel?

They have some nice ones in aldi. Try them next time you're in.

the purple tin

CarlosHarpic wrote: »

They did 9/11 and were never held accountable for it.

I always found this very odd.

There was a lot of anger and ill will towards SA straight after the attack but Bush nipped it in the bud pronto. Himself and Cheney even tried unsuccessfully to pass a law that would block the victims family members from suing SA for damages, and then publically bad-mouthed those who did.

Hammer89

super_furry wrote: »

Ah lads if you've never had a falafel, preferably with grilled halloumi and chilli sauce, you're missing out.

We can reasonably assume that not a lot of people here know what falafel is or how it's even pronounced, because I made a very good joke in the previous page which I expected at least 120 'thanks' from - more than two anyway. This is how I know that not many folks are familiar with it.

Snickers Man

Peregrinus wrote: »

A common food from the Middle East, now widespread in the western world. Uusally made from chickpeas. If you've never heard of falafel, you're probably not part of the target market for Saudi Arabian tourism adsyour life is poorer for never having experienced such a gastronomic feast

IMHO

Assetbacked

The links between Saudi money in US companies to US politicians and those close to said politicians is worth uncovering. A segment in that Farenheit 9/11 movie tells only a portion of the story involving the business links between US companies and Saudi Arabia (ignoring the tinfoil hat conspiracy of the alleged cover-up of the links between Saudi Arabian royalty to the key organiser (i.e. Osama) and subsequent distraction campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq). The level of corruption and greed in the US with the politicians trough-gorging with the big companies is rage-inducing and astounding to the point where I believe the society in the US is one which represents the ugly, putrid side of capitalism and should in no way be lauded as something to strive for. The pillars of democracy are crumbling and the economic inequality is disgusting - the US is not fit for purpose in its current state.

However, it is not a nice news story to paint Saudi Arabia in a bad light (even though it is abominable in terms of human rights e.g. celebrating allowing women to drive; astonishing that the word progressive is used for Saudi Arabia); but it is easier to paint Russia as the bogeyman and paint muslim terrorists as mountain-dwelling, "****hole" country inhabiting, snarling, dynamite-holding men.

Franz Von Peppercorn

the purple tin wrote: »

There was a lot of anger and ill will towards SA straight after the attack but Bush nipped it in the bud pronto. Himself and Cheney even tried unsuccessfully to pass a law that would block the victims family members from suing SA for damages, and then publically bad-mouthed those who did.

Instead they sued Iran.

CrankyHaus

the purple tin wrote: »

There was a lot of anger and ill will towards SA straight after the attack but Bush nipped it in the bud pronto. Himself and Cheney even tried unsuccessfully to pass a law that would block the victims family members from suing SA for damages, and then publically bad-mouthed those who did.

Blair similarly stopped the Serious Fraud Office investigation into the Al-Yamamah Arms Deal.

Allegedly hundreds of millions of pounds in bribes to secure Britain's largest ever export deal (up to £83Bn), partly paid for by Saudi crude oil delivery to the UK Government.

BAE subsequently plea-bargained to related charges in the US, for a $400M fine, indicating that the allegations were true.

Saudi, and other Middle-Eastern, arms spending keeps factories open in the US, UK and elsewhere. If the country ever does liberalise its people may stop that so there isn't any real pressure on it to change.

Hande hoche!

the purple tin wrote: »

There was a lot of anger and ill will towards SA straight after the attack but Bush nipped it in the bud pronto. Himself and Cheney even tried unsuccessfully to pass a law that would block the victims family members from suing SA for damages, and then publically bad-mouthed those who did.

Was also behind the only overrule of Obama's veto powers. In relation to a 9/11 bill.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/09/28/overruled-congress-soundly-rejects-obamas-veto-of-911-bill/

the purple tin

Hande hoche! wrote: »

Was also behind the only overrule of Obama's veto powers. In relation to a 9/11 bill.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/09/28/overruled-congress-soundly-rejects-obamas-veto-of-911-bill/

Just goes to show that both parties are singing from the same hymnsheet.

Malayalam

Nope, not suspicious of them in the slightest.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N53DzL3_BHA
:rolleyes: