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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Saudi Rules
http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/34596-the-saudi-rulesSaudi rules, of course, are not necessarily the same as our rules although our drone-executions of UK citizens leave a lot of elbow-room for our British warriors in Riyadh. But I couldnt help chuckling when I read the condemnation of David Mephan, the Human Rights Watch director. Yes, he told us that the Saudis are committing multiple violations of the laws of war in Yemen, and that the British are working hand in glove with the Saudis, helping them, enhancing their capacity to prosecute this war that has led to the death of so many civilians. Spot on. But then he added that he thought all this deeply regrettable and unacceptable.
Regrettable and unacceptable represent the double standards we employ when our wealthy Saudi friends put their hands to bloody work. To find something regrettable means it causes us sadness. It disappoints us. The implication is that the good old Saudis have let us down, fallen from their previously high moral principles.
No wonder the Minister of Defense has popped across to Riyadh to un-crease the maps and explain those incomprehensible co-ordinates for the Saudi leaders of the coalition against terror. Sorting this logistics mess out for the Saudis does, I suppose, make it less unacceptable to have our personnel standing alongside the folk who kill women for adultery without even a fair trial and who chop off the heads of dozens of opponents, including a prominent Saudi Shia cleric.
Those very words regrettable and unacceptable are now the peak of the critical lexicon which we are permitted to use about the Saudis. Anything stronger would force us to ask why David Cameron lowered our flag when the last king of this weird autocracy died.
EdwardBernays
(3,343 posts)It's not just the UK, but also the US which provides the Saudis with weapons and targeting data, and military support and political cover.
Both face dire warnings from aid groups and politicians in their own countries that they are committing war crimes that they could be prosecuted for.
On top of that the bombing in Yemen is actively helping both al Qaeda and ISIS. Which both countries know.
How can helping a serial human rights abuser bomb and starve civilians, whole helping too of the biggest anti-American terrorist groups be a good plan?
What AREN'T we willing to do for Saudi Arabia?
And should it bother us that Hillarys Campaign is being run by a lobbyist for Saudi Arabia?
Javaman
(62,530 posts)no one talks about that anymore.
because they supply the world with their oil, not only does the world look the other way, we actually help them with their genocide operation.
this is the sum results of wanton globalization.