Politics As Usual

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
Damn. Next it won't be libelous to call someone a polygamist.

At some point it should become ok, you aren't libeling me SS, FWIW.

And if you'd just nominate Teddy we'd stop with the waffling, and just focus on the ole drowning women schtick- although, in T's defense. he only drowned the one...

[Not Me]

I heard some commentators speculating that there is concern about whether the Saudi army will remain loyal to the monarchy if there is an uprising of radical wahhabites and the wahhabi clerics call on the army to turn on the monarchy.

Very fucking scary.

I hope those of you driving around in your gas guzzling SUVs are proud of yourselves.

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by Not Me
I heard some commentators speculating that there is concern about whether the Saudi army will remain loyal to the monarchy if there is an uprising of radical wahhabites and the wahhabi clerics call on the army to turn on the monarchy.

Very fucking scary.

I hope those of you driving around in your gas guzzling SUVs are proud of yourselves.

Whatever. If y'all don't like it, raise the gas tax and make the poor people take the bus. I'll still put 25 gallons a week into my SUV for 30 or so miles of weekly driving. Its soooo comfy. And safe.

You didn't think of that tax thingy, did you? Well, thats what crack might have done to you sweetie. Consumption taxes would solve lots of problems.

Oh, and as to your point, aren't they all cousins over there anyway? Sorta like Arkansas?

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
You didn't think of that tax thingy, did you? Well, thats what crack might have done to you sweetie. Consumption taxes would solve lots of problems.

Of course I thought of the tax thing and advocate higher taxes on gasoline with the revenues going to finance research into alternative energy sources. It is one of the few taxes I am for.

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
Oh, and as to your point, aren't they all cousins over there anyway? Sorta like Arkansas?

The royal family is quite inbred. But I am not sure what that has to do with my point. My point is that it would be worse for US interests if there is a successful revolution in Saudi Arabia and the monarchy is deposed and replaced by a radical Wahhabi islamic state. We simply cannot allow that to happen. If the SA army turns on the monarchy, who will have to stop the revolution? And if we don't, what kind of horrific terrorism problem will this world have if the Wahhabi extremists get control of SA oil revenues to finance their terrorism?

Spend a bit of time thinking about how safe you will be if that scenario plays out.

[Not Me]

I wonder how much it will cost to drive your SUVs around if the SA oil supply infrastructure is disrupted?

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...5E1702,00.html

• INTELLIGENCE agencies fear that the Islamic terrorists behind the deadly kidnappings in Saudi Arabia over the weekend are planning a "spectacular attack" in the country, The Times reported today.
  
  Twenty-two people were killed in the Saudi terrorist operation, including hostages whose throats were slit before commandos moved in.
  
  Key oil installations or the causeway linking Saudi Arabia to Bahrain were among the possible targets of a future attack, according to the British newspaper's intelligence sources.
  
  Final preparations for such an attack were being made by al-Qaeda sympathisers, The Times said.

[Not Me]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...5E7583,00.html

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentSe...=1084907917817

So if there is a successful revolution in SA and a radical islamic state is established there, will you continue to fund terrorism by driving your gas guzzling SUVs?

[Not Me]

We have no one to blame but ourselves for the problem that is Saudi Arabia today. We have become a gluttonous nation who refuse to make any type of sacrifice. Instead of calling for cheaper oil, we need to call for those of you who drive these gas guzzling cars to get a social conscience and exercise some fucking self restraint. You are pigs and you are hurting us all!


http://news.scotsman.com/opinion.cfm?id=617472004

• HOW secure now is the Saudi Arabian regime? And how safe from terrorist attack are the country’s huge oil installations, on which the world relies for its energy? Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest oil supplier. The latest deadly al-Qaeda attack in the eastern Saudi city of Khobar, in which 22 people were killed, including an American and a Briton, cannot but deepen anxiety over the threat to a key artery of the world economy. In attacking oil-related installations and personnel, al-Qaeda is effectively hitting two targets at once: the Saudi royal family that it has pledged to overthrow, and the world’s economy, in particular that of the United States.
  
  The weekend’s horrific attack is by no means an isolated incident. In early May, five foreigners were killed in an attack on a petrochemical site in the city of Yanbu. There, the increasingly tattered body of a western oil engineer was lashed to a car and dragged through the streets. There have been 12 deadly terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia in the course of the past 12 months. In May last year, suicide bombers attacked three Riyadh compounds housing foreigners, killing 35 people.
  
  With the world oil price already above $40 and Iraqi oil production running below the levels achieved in the dying months of Saddam Hussein’s regime, western governments have every reason to be deeply concerned at developments in Saudi Arabia. They underscore the dependence of the international economy on Saudi oil and the vulnerability of oil installations and personnel to terrorist attack, and further undermine confidence in the Saudi regime. Another likely consequence is the growing involvement of the US, however covert, in protecting its oil workers and assisting the Saudis to combat the al-Qaeda threat.
  
  Such terrorist attacks are likely to drive the regime ever deeper into a trap that could prove its undoing. Saudi Arabia is not a democracy. Political demonstrations are banned. In "normal" circumstances, the authorities could prudently move towards liberalisation and an opening-up of the government. But terror attacks may encourage it to do exactly the opposite: intensify security, hunt down known opponents and put any talk of democratisation on ice.
  
  Such attacks raise searching questions about the stability - and durability - of the Saudi government. It has been widely held until now that, because there is no serious alternative to the dominance of the Royal Family, it will survive. But others disagree. Some view these attacks as the beginning of the end, suggesting that the Royal Family is losing control and that the regime has only two or three years left if it does not undertake serious reform.
  
  The Saudi Royal Family gave the first hints that it would embark upon some limited, cautious reform last year, with talk about human rights and the promise of local elections. However, some members are believed to be terrified of making any change, and there are many issues that may open up deep divisions within the regime itself, such as allowing women to vote, undermining the uneasy alliance between religious hard-liners and the Royal Family. In the meantime, immediate action is needed, to reassure foreign oil workers and the world that Saudi Arabia is a safe country in which to work and that its oil facilities can be protected from al-Qaeda.

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by Not Me

So if there is a successful revolution in SA and a radical islamic state is established there, will you continue to fund terrorism by driving your gas guzzling SUVs?

If, well, nothing else needs to happen, b/c it already is, will you continue to fund terrorism that kills thousands of our citizens already each year by continuing to smoke crack or otherwise devour expensive illegal drugs?

More directly, will you continue to fund terrorism by driving anything that requires gas?

Yeah, I thought so. Traitor.

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by Not Me
The royal family is quite inbred. But I am not sure what that has to do with my point. My point is that it would be worse for US interests if there is a successful revolution in Saudi Arabia and the monarchy is deposed and replaced by a radical Wahhabi islamic state.

And whatever happened to that dot connector anyway? Those people are very family oriented you know. There's that whole, me against my brothers, me and my brothers against our mother in laws, us and our mother in laws against the infidels, and so on and so on. You think they haven't thought to make sure the top 100 or top 1000 officers in the military are family members? Keep your friends close, and your family closer!

IOW, who with any command authority is likely to lead a revolt? Those drugs are making you paranoid sweetie, and its really changing the Not_Me I know. Its like you aren't yourself anymore. You used to talk about sane stuff, like polygamy and your hoo ha. Now its always just, OMG, I'm not going to see that guy in the white robe coming until its too late. Please seek help. Someone or other* on the FB should be able to hook you up with crackaholics anonymous.

Hello

*Actually, probably almost anyone over there judging by the frequent admissions of felonious activity.

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
If, well, nothing else needs to happen, b/c it already is, will you continue to fund terrorism that kills thousands of our citizens already each year by continuing to smoke crack or otherwise devour expensive illegal drugs?

I don't do drugs at this age. And the reason the violence surrounds the sale of drugs in this country is because the drugs are illegal. One only needs to remember the prohibition years in this country to know that making these substances illegal is the cause of the violence.

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
More directly, will you continue to fund terrorism by driving anything that requires gas?

I do my best to use as little gas as I can. I use public transportation as much as possible, drive a fuel efficient car, and conserve energy in my household. I actively advocate for and support groups that advocate for research into alternative energy sources. I recognize the link between our dependance on oil and terrorism and do all I can to minimize my use of gasoline and energy.

I used to advocate for more nuclear power plants, but with the rise in terrorism, I am afraid that the terrorists would find a way to attack a plant and attempt to release radiation.

I am also doing my part in stopping the demand for more energy by not breeding.

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
And whatever happened to that dot connector anyway? Those people are very family oriented you know. There's that whole, me against my brothers, me and my brothers against our mother in laws, us and our mother in laws against the infidels, and so on and so on. You think they haven't thought to make sure the top 100 or top 1000 officers in the military are family members? Keep your friends close, and your family closer!

I am sure that the top officers are. I just don't know if the troops will follow the officers if an uprising of the populace occurs and the clerics call for overthrowing the monarchy.

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
IOW, who with any command authority is likely to lead a revolt?

The wahhabbi clerics and if the troops won't follow or turn on their commanders, what power do the commanders have?

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
[rantings about crack]

You sound like you could use a little valium right now. Or maybe a quaalude.

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by Not Me
I don't do drugs at this age. And the reason the violence surrounds the sale of drugs in this country is because the drugs are illegal. One only needs to remember the prohibition years in this country to know that making these substances illegal is the cause of the violence.

I'll pass on the softballs that appeared elsewhere in your post. As for what you say above, its nonsense. Would you settle for a but-for test? But for drugs being illegal, they would be widely available and cheap and relatively unprofitable for criminals. (Your position) Check. But, but for criminals in this country providing a demand for illegal drugs at expensive prices, they would be completely unprofitable for criminals (My position: No demand = No Supply). You can hide your face in a crowd of criminals and say its the mob at fault, but it doesn't take away your incremental contribution to the harm by way of your incremental demand. And only the Lord knows what message you send to the children of this country when you deny culpability for the harms that result from your actions. A Friday night in Southwest or Lawndale would do your sense of wrong, right.

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by Not Me
I am sure that the top officers are. I just don't know if the troops will follow the officers if an uprising of the populace occurs and the clerics call for overthrowing the monarchy.

You must not read the papers. In the last 50 wars fought in that region, the only officers that Arab troops have ever followed consistently and succesfully, have been British.

In basically every single other case, the average soldier looks for the first opportunity to surrender. So no, its not really the Saudi Army we should be worried about. OTOH, its not really the Saudi Army we should be depending on.

Originally posted by Not Me
You sound like you could use a little valium right now. Or maybe a quaalude.

What a draag it is getting up, huh?

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
and yet you keep posting, inviting your enemies to keep up the head-kicking>

Enemies? I have enemies? Should I get a bodyguard or a food taster?

[Atticus Grinch]

A textbook example of why it's a bad idea to choose your candidate based on his electability/likeability: if the voters like em too much, they won't hold em accountable for what he says or promises.

No greater proof than electing a movie actor who's accustomed to shilling for his latest projects by describing the worst imaginable shite as "fantastic." Keep in mind, prior to this year's budget, other projects Schwarzenegger judged "fantastic" have been "Red Sonja," "Batman & Robin," and T3.

The world according to Schwarzenegger.