Saudi Arabia - should we do business with them?
Poll: Saudi Arabia - should we do business with them?
Total Members Polled: 573
Discussion
BlackLabel said:
When there's this much money on the table I guess you'd even do a deal with the devil.
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T'was ever thus, all the right wing dictators that were propped up by UK weapons...until they were knocked down by UK/US weapons...]
The HOuse of Saud are low grade evil, like WCW compared to WWF, they've never stuck their neck out enough to get it chopped off, they prefer to fund/instigate barbarity across the world instead.
BlackLabel said:
The “Muslim ban” president is about to give a speech on Islam. In Saudi Arabia. What could go wrong?
It'll be fine. Trump thinks Islam is a great religion, just the best religion.I think it was GWB who made "religion of peace" a byword that was picked up and given a life of it's own.
I never thought I'd say something good about Bush II, but Trump makes him look more statesmanlike by the day. Here's a compilation of his comments on Islam:
https://youtu.be/2ynG7bcH6ss
Trump might just be enough of his own man to launch a withering attack on Saudi human rights, womens rights and funding of foreign extremists for decades, but I suspect $100BN and the pies he can get his fingers into will greatly reduce the chance of any gaffes.
Edited by glazbagun on Sunday 21st May 09:10
Throughout history we have dealt with the very worst people in the world. We happily dealt with Saddam until he was not our friend.
If we don't deal with them Russia, China etc will without any problems. We should do the same.
We are now trying to work in areas where bribes are normal, the Bribery act now makes any company liable if they get caught doing anything outside ethical standards. It only came in as a result of our bribes being larger than the Americans ones during an arms deal, they cried foul and off we go.
We should stop trying to make the world the same, if Saudi wants to keep women from driving them fine by me, but don't try to do that in the UK.
We stick our moral nose in too often and we have enough issues at home to deal with without dictating to others
If we don't deal with them Russia, China etc will without any problems. We should do the same.
We are now trying to work in areas where bribes are normal, the Bribery act now makes any company liable if they get caught doing anything outside ethical standards. It only came in as a result of our bribes being larger than the Americans ones during an arms deal, they cried foul and off we go.
We should stop trying to make the world the same, if Saudi wants to keep women from driving them fine by me, but don't try to do that in the UK.
We stick our moral nose in too often and we have enough issues at home to deal with without dictating to others
What are they buying? Some F-18s, a missile defence system and apparently some "tanks and ships"
On the telly they had a great terrorist conversion centre with gym and swimming pools and a nice therapist to teach them about embracing life instead of death. Apparently through some kind of cognitive therapy, they've got an 80% success rate. Might have been a better method in Guantanamo rather than just water boarding people and hitting them and then releasing them as more devout jihadists than before.
On the telly they had a great terrorist conversion centre with gym and swimming pools and a nice therapist to teach them about embracing life instead of death. Apparently through some kind of cognitive therapy, they've got an 80% success rate. Might have been a better method in Guantanamo rather than just water boarding people and hitting them and then releasing them as more devout jihadists than before.
GT03ROB said:
spaximus said:
If we don't deal with them Russia, China etc will without any problems.
Quite. May not make it right, but still the lesser of evils.The people the Saudis use those weapons on (Yemenis, Shias, Syrians etc) may feel that we're culpable in some way. Now they're never going to take us on in military combat but they might be tempted to do terroristy stuff like blow up the odd airliner or fly planes into buildings...
Like it or not, by selling them weapons, we are taking sides.
The Yemini that the Saudis are fighting seem to be a mix of rebels and those wishing to overthrow the government there.
They are part of a coalition force determined to sort the mess out before it spreads.
I am no expert on the middle east, but history seems to show that when we get involved it goes wrong, perhaps the Saudi coalition may get it right, but without the sensitivities the west always have about war
They are part of a coalition force determined to sort the mess out before it spreads.
I am no expert on the middle east, but history seems to show that when we get involved it goes wrong, perhaps the Saudi coalition may get it right, but without the sensitivities the west always have about war
spaximus said:
The Yemini that the Saudis are fighting seem to be a mix of rebels and those wishing to overthrow the government there.
They are part of a coalition force determined to sort the mess out before it spreads.
I am no expert on the middle east, but history seems to show that when we get involved it goes wrong, perhaps the Saudi coalition may get it right, but without the sensitivities the west always have about war
"Sensitivities" such as GAF about killing innocent people....that sort of thing? If so then yes, far better that the Saudis are in the front line and we can be all Pontius Pilate about it....as long as nobody wonders where the Saudis got the weapons from....They are part of a coalition force determined to sort the mess out before it spreads.
I am no expert on the middle east, but history seems to show that when we get involved it goes wrong, perhaps the Saudi coalition may get it right, but without the sensitivities the west always have about war
Countdown said:
"Sensitivities" such as GAF about killing innocent people....that sort of thing? If so then yes, far better that the Saudis are in the front line and we can be all Pontius Pilate about it....as long as nobody wonders where the Saudis got the weapons from....
IIRC Cameron passed a law that made it illegal for us to sell weapons to Saudi when they are blowing apart children etc.It gets ignored.
Remember that Assad is the designated 'bad' guy and Saudisreal are our friends.
You can tell a lot about a person by their friends.
https://www.rt.com/op-edge/388929-saudi-arabia-shi...
El stovey said:
On the telly they had a great terrorist conversion centre with gym and swimming pools and a nice therapist to teach them about embracing life instead of death. Apparently through some kind of cognitive therapy, they've got an 80% success rate. Might have been a better method in Guantanamo rather than just water boarding people and hitting them and then releasing them as more devout jihadists than before.
Meanwhile in the UK the Saudis are well known for what type of mosques and religious literature they have been funding for decades.If there is a nation that is to be held responsible for the growth of terrorism in our country, it is them I'm afraid mate.
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