When They're Killing Each Other...

...don't stop them, but first let the Saud's beat the crap out of Iran:

Saudi Arabia, Iran and the 'Great Game' in Yemen

‘Yemen has a lot of bad actors’: Iran and Saudi Arabia face lesson on limits of power

Saudi-Backed Forces Said to Wrest Aden, Yemen, From Houthis

Nuclear deal: Saudis signal they'll act before Iran gets the money

The World Is Bloody-Well...

...upside down:

Saudi King Publicly Blames Hamas for Gaza War

"In a stunning five minute statement read on state television late Friday, Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, leader of Israel’s oldest and most implacable foe, called the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza a “collective massacre” caused by Hamas.

It is just the latest signal in a tectonic shift in Middle East geopolitics that has been largely overlooked by Western media seemingly still committed to building upon its decades-old narrative that Israel remains the united enemy of the Arab world.

In the 75 year history of conflict between Arabs and Jews in the Middle East, no state has been more consistently intransigent against the very notion of a sovereign Jewish presence in the region than the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, founded by Abdullah’s grandfather, Ibn Saud, in 1923."

There's More Than One Way...

...to skin a cat:

'Yes, this book should be published': Saudi Arabian blogger Raif Badawi's writings go West

Saudi blogger Badawi views survival of 50 lashes as miracle - magazine

A look at the writings of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi – sentenced to 1,000 lashes

The truth will out.

What She Said

Sweden’s feminist foreign minister has dared to tell the truth about Saudi Arabia. What happens now concerns us all

There's too much to quote without copying the whole thing. Just read the whole thing.  She better have some good body guards.

Related.

 

Yay!!!

When they're killing each other, don't stop them.

More here and here.

Yup. It's The Seventh Century

Saudi Cleric Rejects That Earth Revolves Around The Sun, Claims NASA's Lunar Excursion Is Hollywood Fabrication

Saudi cleric rejects theory Earth rotates around the Sun

Saudi cleric denies Earth’s rotation

Initiation rite...

...completed: First beheading in Saudi Arabia under King Salman

Lots of info here.

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Queen Elizabeth II once terrorized King Abdullah — by driving him around

Coulda been what killed him.

The Enemy Of My Enemy

Saudi foreign minister: we must denounce our hatred toward Israel and begin normalize ties with Jewish nation

"Speaking on the sidelines of the world assembly of Islamic scholars in Jeddh, Saud bin Faisal Al Saud said that the Middle-East needs peace and co-existence more than ever and Saudi Arabia as a leading Islamic country is ready to make sacrifices in peace negations and encourages President Abbas to follow the same policy.

Referring to the ongoing war in Gaza strip, the Saudi foreign Minster stressed that Hamas authority is the sole responsible for Palestinian calamity and they must brought before the law. [Emphasis mine]

The Saudi official further added that Arab World Increasingly Frustrated With Hamas which is seeking more wars."

[---]

"Media in Saudi Arabia and Egypt blame Hamas’ actions for Israeli war and prioritizing conflict over the safety of the Gazan population and criticized the leadership for waging war far from the conflict, a Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) report shows."

[---]

"“[Meshaal], we are tired of defending the [Palestinian] cause that you have sold for cheap to an MB (Muslim Brotherhood) gang whose way you followed even though they have lost their [own] way,” wrote columnist Abdul-Hamdi Razaq. He also called Meshaal out for living in luxurious Qatari hotels instead of fighting in Gaza.

Hamas is losing its legitimacy because it was sacrificing Palestinians while using financial aid to promote its interests, wrote Al-Watan columnist Abdullah Al-Sayyid."

I've been nursing this theory for some time that the House of Saud is afraid of a Muslim Brotherhood inspired coup. There is obviously no love lost for the MB with the Egyptian regime, either. They are all afraid of Iran and Israel is stronger than all of them combined. We live in interesting times.

(Note: Poor English and grammar exists throughout the text of the article. It looks like it may have been machine translated, or translated by someone whose command of English is very weak.)

Related: Iran to sue Israel over drone issue: spokesperson

"Iran will give a crushing response to any enemy aggression against its soil, Iranian military officials also said on Monday.

"Iran will respond to any aggression, from any aggressor, under any circumstances" and "this is a serious message from Iran," Iran 's Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehqan was quoted as saying by Press TV on Monday.

Meanwhile, Commanders of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) also threatened retaliatory steps in the wake of the downing of the drone.

"We will accelerate arming (Palestinians) in the West Bank and we preserve the rights for any response" to Israel in retaliation for its drone penetrating Iran's space, Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, aerospace commander of IRGC, was quoted as saying by semi-official Fars news agency.

Iran's military forces are fully ready to detect and intercept the flying objects of the enemy over the country's air space, Hajizadeh said Monday, adding that "in case these actions are repeated, the aggressors should wait for our crushing response."

The IRGC said Sunday that it had downed an "Israeli spy drone" near Natanz uranium enrichment site in the central province of Isfahan.

After the drone of Israel, which was a stealth and radar- evading kind, was intercepted by IRGC's air defense system, it was targeted by a missile and downed before penetrating the airspace over the Natanz nuclear site, a statement by IRGC said without elaborating on when the drone was shot down.

It said the main parts of the drone were undamaged, according to Press TV.

Iran's state TV on Monday broadcast footage of an allegedly Israeli drone, showing small scraps of the destroyed drone in a dessert-like area.

"The downed spy drone is Hermes and made in Israel," Hajizadeh said, adding that the operational range of Hermes drones is 800 km and the aircraft can fly 1,600 km by refueling once.

The Israeli drone is equipped with two cameras, enabling the espionage aircraft to capture high-quality images, Press TV quoted him as saying.

The country's military experts will analyze the remaining parts of the downed drone to extract any data stored on its system, Dehqan was also quoted as saying.

The Iranian defense minister said Israel and the United States seek to create the impression that they could penetrate the airspace of any country to conduct spying operations.

On Saturday, Iran launched a uranium-conversion plant which would produce enriched uranium dioxide in Isfahan province within the framework of the agreement with the P5+1 group, namely Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States plus Germany.

Under an interim deal reached between Iran and the P5+1 that came into effect on Jan. 20, Iran would suspend some sensitive nuclear activities in exchange for limited sanction relief, and the two sides would negotiate over a comprehensive deal within six months.

After six months of negotiations, Iran and the six world powers agreed on July 19 to extend their talks until Nov. 24, as disagreements remained over Tehran's uranium enrichment capacity, its Arak heavy water reactor and the sanctions.

The two sides are expected to hold meetings in New York in Sept. ."

All bluster and bravado. The downed drone is probably their own.

We Live In Interesting Times

The chicken has come home to roost.

I've thought, for some time now, that the reason the House of Saud supports the Muslim Brotherhood and others of that ilk is because they want to hang on to their thrones - a Danegeld of sorts. Looks like their luck may have run out.

Saudi king now trying to stop terrorists he enabled

"The old guard of Saudi Arabia is witnessing what may be a power shift — if not to Iran –certainly to Qatar who is funding lots of this terrorist activity as well – and with whom, you’ll recall, we negotiated for the release of Bowe Berdgahl. Meanwhile, quietly sitting and watching is Erdogan and Turkey.

My ace in the hole is simple: the Kurdish people."

Three Guesses...

Who could be behind this?

200 girls are missing in Nigeria – so why doesn't anybody care?

Remember the girls school in Saudi Arabia that was burned to the ground with them inside?

What's Up In Islamofascistland?

Saudi Arabia declares Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group

"Saudi Arabia formally designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization Friday, putting it on the same footing under Saudi law as al Qaida and shaking what until recent months had been considered one of the Muslim world’s most established mainstream organizations."

Trying to get on the good side of their customers?

Seeking Israel's protection?

"Members of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood have been a mainstay of the movement to topple the government of President Bashar Assad, and the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey is closely allied with the Brotherhood.

The designation is also likely to have ramifications for Hamas, the Brotherhood-affiliated group that rules the Gaza Strip and which both the United States and Israel have designated a terrorist organization."

And The One Is Not Pleased:

"The U.S. State Department said it did not share Saudi Arabia’s view that the Brotherhood was a terrorist organization. But with the United States increasingly dependent on Saudi Arabia to pursue its stated goal of toppling Assad in Syria, U.S. policy _ and its selection of partners _ in that country seemed likely to be affected by the Saudi action."

RTWT It's almost like an earthquake has hit the Middle East. But there's more...

Or are they afraid of a coup? Saudis: Muslim Brotherhood a terror group

"Authorities worry that hundreds of young, radicalized Islamist fighters will return home and try to topple the royal regimes."

[---]

"The Brotherhood condemned the Saudi action.

"It is one of the founding principles of the group not to interfere in matters of other states, and this new position from the kingdom is a complete departure from the past relationship with the group, since the reign of the founding king until now," the group said in a statement."

The world's still in spin, the Middle East is falling apart

"Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has called for the expansion of relations with on Oman in a move apparently meant to undermine Saudi Arabia’s efforts to dominate the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council and exercise greater influence in the Arab world.

In a phone call made by the Qatari ruler to Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said on Thursday, the two influential Arab rulers reviewed means of boosting and developing ties in addition to the latest regional developments.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates recalled their envoys from Doha this week in what many said was a response to Qatar's support for the Muslim Brotherhood of deposed Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, who was overthrown by the military in July.

Egypt has welcomed the decision of the three Persian Gulf states to withdraw their envoys to Qatar and said its own ambassador "will not return" to the emirate."

...and I'm getting dizzy.

In the meantime, the Ottoman Empire strikes back: Erdogan show of strength fails to eradicate his weak spots

"When an Ankara court ruled this week against Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s construction of a new TL650m ($295m) prime ministerial complex, the Turkish leader insisted the building would go on.

The court said the site was on protected land in the forests outside the capital city. In reply, the prime minister suggested the court’s decision was probably the work of a “parallel state” within Turkish institutions.[Emphasis mine] “No one can stop the construction of this building and no one can demolish it,” he proclaimed".

He's getting desperate: Turkey warns YouTube and Facebook could be banned

Have I ever told you I think technological advances are a primary catalyst of change, frequently in directions that were unanticipated. The invention of the printing press, is a major example. The internet is another. It's also true that history is just one damn thing after another.

Pot. Meet Kettle.

Saudi ideology a threat to world: Al Assad

"Damascus: Syrian President Bashar Al Assad warned during a meeting in Damascus on Wednesday with Iran’s foreign minister that Saudi Arabia’s political and religious ideology is “a threat to the world”, state television reported.

He was referring to Wahhabism, an ultra-conservative Sunni Muslim tradition, which is predominant in Saudi Arabia, a key backer of Syria’s revolt against Al Assad.

“President Al Assad warns during his meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of the threat posed by Wahhabi thinking to all the world, not just to the region,” the report said."

You can't make this shit up.

Meanwhile, in Egypt. It ain't over 'till it's over. And it ain't over.

I'm Still Here...

...just not very motivated.  I am ever so slowly learning how to navigate with Windows 7 on my new 'puter, but I'm still pissed off with Bill Gates.


Never the less, here's a couple of interesting things that reflect recent news:

Iran pulls down anti-US posters in capital

"The Tehran municipality has removed anti-American posters from the streets of the capital which questioned US honesty in nuclear talks with Iran, media reported on Sunday."

[---]

""In an arbitrary act and without the knowledge and confirmation of the municipality, one of the advertising agencies had put up these posters," spokesman Hadi Ayyazi was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency.

AFP photographers said that some posters could still be seen across Tehran.

One of them, bearing the words "American honesty," shows US and Iranian negotiators sitting at a table and facing each other, the American wearing a jacket and tie but with army pants and boots underneath."

[---]

"Rouhani, a moderate cleric who has pledged to improve ties with the West, held a historic 15-minute telephone conversation with US President Barack Obama last month, the first direct contact between leaders of the two countries in more than three decades.

The call came as Rouhani was winding up a visit to New York where he attended the UN General Assembly.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has backed Rouhani's overtures but criticised some aspects of the UN visit as "inappropriate."

Iranians are also split over whether it is still appropriate to chant "Death to America" -- one of the main slogans of the 1979 revolution -- at official ceremonies.

November 4 is the anniversary of the seizure of the US embassy in Tehran, during which Islamist students captured and held 52 US diplomats hostage for 444 days."

You know what I think? I think this is a campaign of disinformation. Normally, I don't think the Americans would fall for it, but with The One in office, who knows?



Then there's this little ditty, which I presume is tongue in cheek:



Plus ca change.

An Injustice Crying Out...

...to be corrected:

Saudi prince sues Forbes magazine for saying he’s only worth $20-billion

"Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has launched a libel lawsuit against Forbes magazine, claiming the U.S. publication undervalued his wealth to the tune of nearly US$10 billion in its annual ranking of the world’s richest people earlier this year, according to several news reports."

[---]

"Alwaleed, the richest man in the Middle East, insisted he’s actually worth US$3o billion and accused Forbes of “intentional biases and inconsistencies” in its valuation process."

Oh, the humanity!!

Too Handsome?

Or too much competition for the religious police?

I'd let him into Canada, anyway.

I see what they mean.

And speaking of the Arab Parallel Universe:

Syria and Iraq's(?) chemical weapons. Nah. Can't be.

And, last, but not least:

Bwhahahahahaha!!

Young Saudis have some humour. Something about dinosaurs....

Forced into extinction

One Week Away...

...from the 20th Olympiad, and the politics has already begun. Some are calling for a moment of silence in memory of the 11 Israeli athletes who were murdered in the 1972 Olympics, by, of course, Palestinian terrorists. But, so far, it looks like it will be business as usual. Of course, this won't stop athletes from individual countries from making a statement of one kind or another. I hope Canada's team will be sporting Israeli insignia, flags, etc. as well as Canadian ones while they are there.

And remember the good old days, when the Soviet Union used to send male athletes to compete in female events, you know those husky women with the five o'clock shadow of their faces and rather unusual body shapes for women. Well, it looks like perhaps the Saudis are going to have to do the same thing.

"Saudi Arabia’s pledge to send women to the London 2012 Olympics might fail because the country has little prospects of finding athletes who meet international standards.

According to a Saudi newspaper, what slim prospects the nation had of qualifying women are gone and Saudi Arabia will only send men.

“We are still trying to find women to qualify,” an embassy official told the BBC today. “The problem is finding women to meet the minimum criteria. This matter is being negotiated now between the (International Olympic Committee) and the Saudi Olympic committee.”"

Betcha there will be lots of female athletes among the Israeli Apartheid (cough, hack, hack) Team (/sarc) though.

In the meantime, look for the Olympic Committee to lower its standards so the Sauds can participate.

And While I'm on the Topic of Crime...

...here's an example of the opposite extreme:

Saudi blogger Hamza Kashgari jailed, may face execution after tweets about Muhammad

"Hamza Kashgari, the young Saudi blogger whose foolhardy tweets about Prophet Muhammad left conservative clerics baying for his blood, is a poet and a dreamer, says a former colleague."

[---]

"“Hamza always liked being alone, he wasn’t a social person,” said a senior editor at Al Bilad, the newspaper Mr. Kashgari used to work for.

“He had a broken look in his eyes and I think that was a sign of sadness or depression. He’s a poet and had a lot of philosophical ideas.”"

[---]

"“The only choice is for Kashgari to be killed and crucified in order to be a lesson to other secularists,” commented Abu Abdulrahman, an online reader of al-Madina newspaper."

[---]

"Some observers suggest the country’s conservative clerics seized on Mr. Kashgari’s tweets as a way of pushing back against the modest reforms enacted by King Abdullah. These include allowing women to vote in local elections and to work in lingerie stores.

They also point out Saudi clerics have been quick to realize the potential of the Internet as a tool for proselytizing. They are now among some of the country’s most active tweeters."

[---]

"Before his arrest, Mr. Kashgari said in an interview with the U.S. news website the Daily Beast he did not think he could ever go home because of the death threats, but was also defiant.

“I view my actions as part of a process toward freedom. I was demanding my right to practise the most basic human rights — freedom of expression and thought – so nothing was done in vain,” he said.

“I believe I’m just a scapegoat for a larger conflict. There are a lot of people like me in Saudi Arabia who are fighting for their rights.”"

Which is why I have hope for the Muslim world. There is a generational conflict going on. The old, gray-haired men in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, as well as the clerics, who are themselves old and gray-haired, will soon enough pass away and young people like Hamza Kashgari will take their place.

I've been a reader of Irshad Manji's blog for a long time. She is another young Muslim who acts as a bellwether for the future. According to Manji, she gets many, many, many emails and comments from young Muslims expressing more or less the same ideas as Hamza Kashgari. The hardliners are creating martyrs of a different kind than what they would like.

Not To Worry

I'm sure there are dozens of spares. It'll be interesting to see what sort of palace intrigue ensues, tho.