Are the Saudis not interested in democracy?

[sandyRoe]

Why aren't the Saudi people demanding democracy in their country? I'm sure politicians in The West would do all they could to help

[Ankou]

perhaps like bahrain, the world would just suggest a cabinet reshuffle and then ignore it on the news.

[VHG]

I went to Saudi a few years ago on a week long business trip. Nearest I have ever been to a police state and I hated it there. Could not wait to come home.

Nasty country and one that totally mistrusts foreigners (I was treated like a criminal and searched at the airport because I brought in some software CDs as I worked in IT. They though it was pornography). I nearly turned round and came straight home.

I was scared to write a postcard home critisizing them in case the "police" read it, thats how bad it was.

I think any rebellion would be stamped down hard by the authorities.

But I dont think the people there have it too bad. There is no income tax and plenty of highly skilled people from outside bringing money in (they employ many highly skilled foreign workers for aerospace, IT etc).

There is also a LOT of very rich people there, judging by the number of Rolls, Mercedes etc I saw driving around and the expensive clothes and jewellry people were wearing.

However they do treat their Asian immigrants like dirt. They bring many Asians in to do menial jobs and give them few if any "rights" (when I was there Asians and women were not allowed to drive cars). All the Arabs look down on them.

They also have morality police walking round with canes. If they see a couple (man and woman) walking together, and the woman is showing too much skin then the MAN is canned across the legs (the implication being that he owns her and so controls what she is wearing).

And they still chop off hands for stelaing.

Horrible country.

[Sqad]

VHG...LOL...yes I take all you points on board. Mrs sqad and me were in Saudi Arabia for 4 years, 2 years in Jeddha and two years in Tabuk (just south of the Jordanian border) but we also visited Riyadh and Daharan.

The bedouins in the desert were very friendly, appreciative and in know way anti-foreigner.........in fact we made many Saudi friends.
Despite the fact that women "seemed" second class citizens to our western culture, mrs sqad enjoyed the country.

Jeddah was different...affluent, thriving, opulence was obvious and everywhere to be seen and although I again enjoyed the people and the lifestyle Mrs sqad HATED it.

Saudi Arabia is the heart and birthplace of Islam and surrounding Middle Eastern countries look to Saudi Arabia as the keeper of true Islam.

I cannot see a revolution in Saudi Arabia the likes of other Middle Eastern Countries.......it is a Monarchy. traditional and the people respect the heirachy.

However.....I understand the view taken by VHG

[Bobbisox]

Hi Sandy, these countries have huge double standards, my friends husband works in Dubai and she is going there to stay till the contracts finished, they go out most evenings and have a drink, the hotels are very ornate with enormous ice sculptures housing Vodka, yet drink is strictly forbidden in the Arab culture, also a Dubai man ran into the back of his car, he was advised against contacting the police as it would alway be the national who would be in the right.The ruling Royals in Saudi were mostly Brithish educated, they know they hold the West to ransom for oil ect and most migrant workers ther are from places like the Philipines, I, personally don't see any uprising in the Saudi / UAE at all.

[Sqad]

bobbi.....welcome back.

Alcohol is not against Islamic teaching.

It is banned in Saudi Arabia on historical grounds and not religious.

[Bobbisox]

morning sqad, really?
I thought it was banned in Islamic law

[Sqad]

bobbi.....no it isnt.

[Bobbisox]

so you have said sqad, and I believe you

[sandyRoe]

Sqad,
are you Richard Arnot?

[Sqad]

sandy.....LOL.....LOL Richard Arnot was my junior registrar in the UK. I visited Saudi at the invitation of the Saudi "Government" and did indeed go into the flat where the "incident" occurred.

I am not Richard Arnot or his wife Penny.

LOL...LOL.....well spotted though.

[Bobbisox]

a slight turn on this thread Sandy, the Brits who have been working in Libya under a dictatorship although he considers himself as a Revolutionary, do you think, because they have worked virtually tax free, they should be made to fork out for the passage back, given we face enormous cuts now in out defence budget

[Sqad]

sandy.....I have just told Mrs sqad of your suspicions and she is VERY impressed.

[McMouse]

Even if Saudis were interested in democracy the US is quite happy with the status quo there and would support the Saudi government against any insurrection.

[Bobbisox]

It's never going to happen MM, too much class system where the Royals rule, end of

[Sqad]

McM.......I agree.

[McMouse]

Not sure what you're saying Bobbi.

[sandyRoe]

Bobbisox, if someone needed help to return from abroad they'd get a bill from the government. Don't see why tax-dodging expats should be any different.

[Bobbisox]

because of the vast wealth of the ruling Royals MM, I can't see any uprising against them and I agree with you, the USA would be right behind them too

[sandyRoe]

Sqad, a medical man hosting wild debauched parties, I thought that it might just have been you. Maybe you did and were never caught?

[Bobbisox]

me too Sandy but because of the nature of what has happened, I don't think this will happen in these cases