Except that Dubai is NOT oil-rich but has just narrowly enough oil for its own consumption for the time being


Look at shops and transport companies and taxi companies and petrol stations, where you can find Indians and Pakistanis in all relevant positions


The Arab World has made tremendous progress in regard to the economy and to the infrastructure (health, education, public transport) but the progress is eaten up by the population growth. Look at Egypt which in 1967 had some 16 mio inhabitants and now has more than 90. Or Algeria and Morocco who in 1967 had less than 12 mio each and now each more than 35


If the 2500 Jews of Morocco went to the synagogues regularily, the places would NOT be empty


Since a Greek Orthodox priest in Chernossisos gave me a comprehensive instruction about Greek wines, I see them in a more differentiating way

I, on the other hand, cannot picture an Orthodox priest (Greek or otherwise)in other way than giving comprehensive instructions about wines and stronger beverages. (when not about the ahem, charity box)
I think DB took them too seriously.

oh yes, the government permits the construction of a church and it clears their past record?

Erdogan: "They called me an Armenian!"

Are you sure you have the right end of your business acquaintance's stick?

None of the 12 victims were that young.

My apologies in advance if I've been a numpty and somehow mis interpreted your sentence, but I have re-read it several times, and it does seem to suggest that one of the dead is a 21 year old friend of the son of an acquaintance of yours.

I don't mean to be funny/pedantic, but that basic facts are straight is important, isn't it?

Many Jews left Morocco to France, where they are now quite succesful and don't shoot journalists even when they publish caricatures like



People are not "coaxed" to leave the country they have lived in for centuries, a long time before Islamic occupation - They left because Morocco was (and is) a basket case country with very low chances of a decent life.

spot on, thanks

sounds like the end game is being played out,

police chasing a car and shots being fired

Watching it now.. Looks like it's all happening .. Hostages and gunshots.

they really like stealing crap cars, as its the last car they'll ever drive you'd have though they would want to go out in style.

hostages not good

both excellent comments, thanks very much, my only minor disagreement is that the regime of say Saudi Arabia is primarily concerned with staying in power at any cost, the "Islam" is just the wrapping.

100s of journalists with their cars and entourage and wanabe journalists with i-phones getting in the way of the operations!

Seems they are surrounded now in a shop.. People injured, shots fired etc

could not possibly agree more, and I wish that, instead of incessantly debating "Islam" or "Muslims", my own country would stop its 80+ year policy of economically supporting totalitarianism in Saudi and elsewhere in the region.

Is it possible they also supported like, you know, terrorist organisations in the region as long as it served their purpose?

Maybe within Saudi, it's a case of the cynics at the top profiting from the naivety of the mass of useful idiots.

But Saudis' sponsoring of terrorist organisations outside its borders surely has little to do with staying in power as surely any negative fallout from these activities does more to destabliszie them than protect them. To me it shows they believe their own lies and that their interpretation of Islam is thus more than just a cynical ploy of manipulation.

If you aren't aware of its history, and of its local cultures, and can't be bothered to read about it for your understanding, then I suppose you might try entertainment.



The Saudis have actually been reliable allies that have honored their agreements. Very few groups in the region have been able to hold their end of agreements. Relationships are like that sometimes. You don't go into them judgemental. So they weren't judged by Western values, though that would have been a different allegation of racist ethnocentricity.


As holders of the birthplace of Islam, when they say what they do is the genuinity of Islam, how and why can a non-Muslim argue with that?

harsh comment: "the naivety of the mass of useful idiots". I've lived in Saudi, if you're a local and have never been let out how could you possibly not be "naive" or an "idiot"?

I couldn't say how religious the narrow ruling elite is in Saudi, but you're right, but many probably do believe in Islam or their interpretation of Islam

Brilliant!!

haha, yes, the ruling family wants to keep control of the oil money so they do what they have to to make it work

By that measure, shouldn't the Israeli government be the final authority on Christian dogma, or to be fair, the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem?