Why is Saudi Arabia the country of choice for ousted Presidents ?

[barney15c]

Tunisian president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and his thieving wife fled to Saudi Arabia after been ousted from power in the last week or so. In the past despised Ugandan president Idi Amin and Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif have also fled there. What is it about the country which makes it a safe haven, it can't be just its a muslim country, as to my knowledge Amin was not a muslim...... unless he converted.
Are the Saudi's sympathetic to the odd rogue despot??

[Booldawg]

think it probably accepts anyone with enough cash to buy in. Thought it was full of british ex-pat engineers and South African high end management.

[Booldawg]

ps I cant look at your avatar too long - it makes me feel sick; looks like a zombified steptoe.

[keyplus90]

No. If not all then majority of these people did everything in their lives to safeguard American Interests in their countries. They saved most of their wealth (earned through Corruption) in USA as USA assured that they would be welcomed there if ever anything were to go wrong while "serving" American Interests. But when time came then Americans decided to say "As you are of no use anymore so we don't know who you are and you have nothing saved in USA and nothing to do with USA, but we may help you somewhere else if you promise to keep your mouth shut". And then they decide to ask Saudi Kings to give them shelter and meal until they die. Iran's Shah is another example (although not in Saudi Arabia) after all what he did he did not find enough ground for his grave in Iran. His grave is now in Egypt inside a locked shut room so no fresh air either after he died.

Perhaps all these dictators should learn a lesson the people who they believe would help, were just using them.

[jake-the-peg]

I seem to recall Margaret Thatcher making a certain Chilean dictator welcome here in Blighty.

A min who was responsible for the Murder of over a thousand people and the torture of 30,000

Apparently Maggie used to have him around for Tea

http://en.wikipedia.o...#Relationship_with_UK

[Sqad]

Idi Amin was a Muslim.
Saudi Arabia considers itself to be the home of Islam and refuge for all or any Muslim.

I saw Amin as a patient and he was a huge fellow but polite and well mannered, with a gentle handshake. Yes I do remember the atrocities he performed in Uganda.

[anotheoldgit]

It is only those without money that travel halfway around the world to seek asylum in the UK.

But then having said that, I heard that his son and family have flown to Briton, I wonder if he will make his home in Harrods?

[rov1100]

That may have been the case in the past. The US has asked Britain if it will give aslyum to Egypts president Murarak if he got deposed. Many terrorists on the run also choose Britain because our immigration laws are so lax we can't kick them out..

[jno]

Mrs Mubarak's mother was Welsh, so maybe his family will return to live with his inlaws in Pontypridd.

[jno]

aog, I believe Harrods is now owned by the Qataris, not by Egyptians any more.

[keyplus90]

I owe 50% share or Harrods and I neither Egyptian nor Qatari. Next week I am inviting all of my friends at AB for one off chance with a 90% discount shopping.

[jno]

good man, keyplus, I'll see you there. I might buy some of their nice chocolates.