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[7aged]

The government and it's fanboys have been very busy spreading FUD.
They've pretty much shifted the debate from the issues to a blame game.
We've had in the firing line:

1- Iranian agents (and the shia in general)
2- Sa'ad al-Faqeeh (and other islamist opposition figures)
3- Vindictive arabs from neighbouring countries
4- Ungrateful backstabbing west (reaction to state department criticism and Egypt)
5- Unpatriotic "naturalised" citizens

 

[OttomanScribe]

but the usually vocal online arab and muslim communities remain mostly quiet and that's a problem.

Really? About Saudi?

 

[Firest0rm]

well the only people that are protesting are the shia.They are a religious minority that support Iran.

I don't really see the situation escalating because they only make up 15% of the population. And even if the rest of the population are going to protest they aren't going to ask the king to resign. They will protest interior matters and will ask for a crackdown on corruption ( which already started)

You forgot a 5 there

 

[Despera]

Are you a Saudi national? Is their unrest/ dissatisfaction among the the general populace about the economic/ political situation in the Kingdom? I was under the impression that the King still enjoys popular support.

Yep, I'm a Saudi.

As for the rest, I'm not allowed to discuss, as per The Ministry of Interior's order

Spoiler

 

[xbhaskarx]

“As we do not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, we’ll not allow anybody to interfere in our internal affairs,” the foreign minister said when asked about reports of Iranian instigation for demonstrations inside the Kingdom.

“We hope Iran should be concerned more with demonstrations that are taking place there. In Saudi Arabia we don’t have any demonstrations like in Iran. We would not tolerate any intervention in the Kingdom’s affairs by any foreign party…If we find any foreign intervention we’ll stop it immediately,” he said.

The increasing rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia for influence throughout the middle east is going to be quite interesting to watch over the next few decades.

 

[Deadstar]

One company I would not ever mess with is Google.

 

[7aged]

One company I would not ever mess with is Google.

huh?

 

[7aged]

BTW on a TV show this evening Sa'ad al-Buraik has called for the killing of protestors!

 

[Manos: The Hans of Fate]

BTW on a TV show this evening Sa'ad al-Buraik has called for the killing of protestors!

Uggh, well I'm happy my friend who works in Saudi Arabia is registered with the US embassy and there are plans to leave in place if needed. Though I doubt its going to really get that bad.

 

[Mustaphadamus]

Speculators capitalizing on the fears of curtailed supply in the short-term. First it was Egypt and the Suez Canal, then Libya (largest producer in North Africa, mainly supplies Europe), then now Saudi Arabia. There is no real shortage.

it is utterly impossible for a speculator of any sort to make gas prices rise. it doesnt work like that. You have futures and spot market. Speculation does not affect spot market prices. This is the USD devaluation that is causing that or what bernanke likes to call monetary "easing". Has nothing to do with the boogie man, Ghaddafi, CHarlie Sheen's tiger blood, or anything else.

 

[nib95]

Good. Too long has this corrupt Monarchy run amok.

 

[Gareth Bale]

Worst possible time for this to happen for Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Aramco (the company that deals with the oil) are launching an aggressive recruitment drive at the moment in the USA. They're not just hiring engineers, but a whole load of other positions within their campus.

If you're looking for a great salary (I think Americans are still the highest paid nationality there... yes, they pay based on your nationality) basically free housing, no tax, etc... now would be a great time to move to Saudi Arabia.

 

[Manos: The Hans of Fate]

Worst possible time for this to happen for Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Aramco (the company that deals with the oil) are launching an aggressive recruitment drive at the moment in the USA. They're not just hiring engineers, but a whole load of other positions within their campus.

If you're looking for a great salary (I think Americans are still the highest paid nationality there... yes, they pay based on your nationality) basically free housing, no tax, etc... now would be a great time to move to Saudi Arabia.

They do pay very well according to my friend. Granted he said the country is boring as hell and everyone goes to Dubai (IIRC) for any sort of fun.

 

[Igor Antunov]

now would be a great time to move to Saudi Arabia.

I strongly disagree good sir.

 

[Dai Kaiju]

Fill your gas tanks all the way tonight if you don't already know better.

 

[Vicetrailia]

Unfortunately my friend Nasser from a very privileged family has to go back to Saudi this May. He hates his king, poor guy .

How well does Saudi Aramco pay?

 

[Gareth Bale]

Unfortunately my friend Nasser from a very privileged family has to go back to Saudi this May. He hates his king, poor guy .

How well does Saudi Aramco pay?

Very well. They also pay for your children's education.

 

[RustyNails]

They do pay very well according to my friend. Granted he said the country is boring as hell and everyone goes to Dubai (IIRC) for any sort of fun.

Well, if your friend lives in compounds, they have everything available there: clubs, bars, alcohol, etc.

 

[nib95]

Worst possible time for this to happen for Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Aramco (the company that deals with the oil) are launching an aggressive recruitment drive at the moment in the USA. They're not just hiring engineers, but a whole load of other positions within their campus.

If you're looking for a great salary (I think Americans are still the highest paid nationality there... yes, they pay based on your nationality) basically free housing, no tax, etc... now would be a great time to move to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi generally pays foreigners well. My mate is going there in two weeks to teach English. His starting salary (straight from University) is £20k to £30k plus 25% of his pay towards free accommodation of his choosing (he's picked out an amazing pad) along with other benefits and lots of promotion possibilities.

But if you're a non Muslim or a randy bastard, I'd honestly not recommend it. Where he's going, Riad, it's especially strict. Police actually enforce segregation rules so if you were even caught talking to a women without proper reason, you could get locked up. Couldn't do it myself personally. Though other parts of Saudi are much less strict. Then there's Dubai as someone above mentioned.

 

[NotWii]

Lindsey Williams right
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-ejWiDuVEc

 

[Prine]

Saudi generally pays foreigners well. My mate is going there in two weeks to teach English. His starting salary (straight from University) is £20k to £30k plus 25% of his pay towards free accommodation of his choosing (he's picked out an amazing pad) along with other benefits and lots of promotion possibilities.

But if you're a non Muslim or a randy bastard, I'd honestly not recommend it. Where he's going, Riad, it's especially strict. Police actually enforce segregation rules so if you were even caught talking to a women without proper reason, you could get locked up. Couldn't do it myself personally. Though other parts of Saudi are much less strict. Then there's Dubai as someone above mentioned.

Which is why private parties are so popular. I met a model from Saudi, she told me what they getup to, they do everything there. Just not in pubic.

Was quite shocked.

 

[OttomanScribe]

The birth place of the Islam.

Not really.

Saudi has had it coming. They treat the Shia awfully. It is only a matter of time til the Sunni Pakistani and Bengali labourers that they treat like slaves rise up as well.

Pity that they get so much US arms.

 

[Azih]

Really? About Saudi?

Seriously Saudis get hated on a whole lot on this board. I bitch (very angrily) about the ones who fund the madrassas in Pakistan and Afghanistan all the time.

 

[OttomanScribe]

Seriously Saudis get hated on a whole lot on this board. I bitch (very angrily) about the ones who fund the madrassas in Pakistan and Afghanistan all the time.

My reply was to someone (Salvor) saying that the 'usually vocal Muslim and Arab online communities are silent' about Saudi.

Which is crazy to me because complaining about Saudi seems like the national Muslim pastime. There are few people I know that don't complain about them at least once in every conversation lol.

They treat non-Arabs awfully, they are political nutcases, they are from a radical sect that persecutes anyone who isn't like them and they are generally bad news. No one likes them but no one can do anything about them. Even their own paid-for extremist nutters don't like them.

The crown of the Arabs should only ever be the Turban, and they should get out of the Hijaz, go back to the Nejd and take the title Britain gave them with them.

 

[7aged]

Not really.

Saudi has had it coming. They treat the Shia awfully. It is only a matter of time til the Sunni Pakistani and Bengali labourers that they treat like slaves rise up as well.

Pity that they get so much US arms.

You're way off about foreign labourers. They may not be treated great but they're not a threat.
You need to understand that they're a temporary workforce rather than migrants. They really don't care what happens in the country as long as they can save money to take home with them in a few years. That is why, when construction workers went on strike in Riyadh last month, the police didn't crack down on them.

 

[hxa155]

thousands of people are out on the streets even though there's a curfew here
and there's helicopters everywhere

 

[OttomanScribe]

You're way off about foreign labourers. They may not be treated great but they're not a threat.
You need to understand that they're a temporary workforce rather than migrants. They really don't care what happens in the country as long as they can save money to take home with them in a few years. That is why, when construction workers went on strike in Riyadh last month, the police didn't crack down on them.

I would disagree, from what I understand there is still a lot of anger about the whole thing. Certainly those who I have spoken to feel concerned about it. I think the main thing stopping dissent is the concern that instability will effect sending money home.

 

[Your Excellency]

Saudi Arabian's should realise that the momentum to overthrow this regime is pretty much right now, or in another 50 years time. Right now people in the arab world believe in the power of protest, and that belief is going to disappear quickly.

 

[liger05]

Lol @ the Saudi regime taking about protests being forbidden by the sharia. These punks use bogus scholars to justify there actions. The same regime which rebelled against the caliphate. The same regime that went tool the us military as allies, the same regime which dares to call itself custodians of the two holy mosques, the same regime which treats the unmah's wealth as there own atm machines. The same regime that destroys the prophet (saw) and his companions homes, the same regime which treats the hajj as a money making tourist attraction. Much support to the scholars locked up in Saudi dungeons who continue to speak out against this regime.

 

[RustyNails]

Lol @ the Saudi regime taking about protests being forbidden by the sharia. These punks use bogus scholars to justify there actions. The same regime which rebelled against the caliphate. The same regime that went tool the us military as allies, the same regime which dares to call itself custodians of the two holy mosques, the same regime which treats the unmah's wealth as there own atm machines. The same regime that destroys the prophet (saw) and his companions homes, the same regime which treats the hajj as a money making tourist attraction. Much support to the scholars locked up in Saudi dungeons who continue to speak out against this regime.

WikiLeaks Blows The Lid Off The Sex Parties And Drug Usage Among The Saudi Royals

 

[7aged]

Saudi Arabian's should realise that the momentum to overthrow this regime is pretty much right now, or in another 50 years time. Right now people in the arab world believe in the power of protest, and that belief is going to disappear quickly.

Momentum is already gone.

 

[Veidt]

Saudi Arabian's should realise that the momentum to overthrow this regime is pretty much right now, or in another 50 years time. Right now people in the arab world believe in the power of protest, and that belief is going to disappear quickly.

You're assuming the vast majority of Saudis doesn't want things to stay the way they are.
Wealthy Saudis live a secluded, privileged life. They get to be the image of an entire religion, and live life in whatever way they want ( secretly). The regime is bad for minorities and the surrounding countries. But the majority of Saudis wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Dead Man]

You're assuming the vast majority of Saudis doesn't want things to stay the way they are.
Wealthy Saudis live a secluded, privileged life. They get to be the image of an entire religion, and live life in whatever way they want ( secretly). The regime is bad for minorities and the surrounding countries. But the majority of Saudis wouldn't have it any other way.

Are wealthy Saudis the majority?

 

[Veidt]

got me there.

 

[Firest0rm]

My reply was to someone (Salvor) saying that the 'usually vocal Muslim and Arab online communities are silent' about Saudi.

Which is crazy to me because complaining about Saudi seems like the national Muslim pastime. There are few people I know that don't complain about them at least once in every conversation lol.

They treat non-Arabs awfully, they are political nutcases, they are from a radical sect that persecutes anyone who isn't like them and they are generally bad news. No one likes them but no one can do anything about them. Even their own paid-for extremist nutters don't like them.

The crown of the Arabs should only ever be the Turban, and they should get out of the Hijaz, go back to the Nejd and take the title Britain gave them with them.

You bring up a good point here. For the Saudi Gaffers here. How do Hejazis feel towards Najdis? Is there any resentment?