Who likes the Saudi's?

[Bigprairie1]

....ok folks, who likes the Saudi's?.......(the big oil guys, I think).

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

Haliburton......
Camels.....
Pedophiles.....​

 

[aspeck]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

I have a friend, born and raised in Saudi - he is an okay guy. I like him, in the friendly sort of way ...

 

[QC]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

Is the inference somehow that if I support Big Bad Oil's right to sell a legal product for a profit, that I also must approve of the way Saudis run their country, treat women, treat Jews, dress, lead hypocritical lives and maintain a Monarchy? If that's your point then you now also know the definition of a non-sequitur . . .

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

....so whats your answer QC?
Important note: I'm good with the free market profit thing....particularly when it benefits me. If you saw my vehicles you would know that I'm the average oil company's best friend. I'm trying to pare down from 4 vehicles to two.

 

[QC]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

I'm pretty sure my answer is evident What's yours?

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

....so whats your answer QC?
Important note: I'm good with the free market profit thing....particularly when it benefits me. If you saw my vehicles you would know that I'm the average oil company's best friend. I'm trying to pare down from 4 vehicles to two.

They really love me.
9 registered and insured vehicles and my boat. Yikes!!!!!!!

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

...well for the better part I'm not for them. They are a dictatorship and they are opportunists.
There are more issues than that afoot too, believe me.
Here is one for ya'.....what is the Bush Admin's take on them?

 

[QC]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

International Diplomacy is a very complex deal. Our first decent diplomat was Benjamin Franklin, and even he, who was obsessed with leading the perfect moral life, walked a tightrope everyday to get the French to loan us money and supply soldiers for our run at independence; compromise is part of it, even moral.

I am neither qualified or knowledgable enough to comment on George's choice for male handlholding partners . . .

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

They really love me.
9 registered and insured vehicles and my boat. Yikes!!!!!!!

N' that nasty lookin' boat with the little bitty black boat anchor only sips the fuel at WOT, right: Spinner? How fast does that hot rod of yours go anyho? Bet ya have to hold on when ya put her to the wall, tryin' ta beat the next poor guy to yer favorite fishin' spot!! JR ps: Since we are askin' open ended questions on this thread, I got one: who likes wife beaters or child molesters?

 

[JB]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

Our first decent diplomat was Benjamin Franklin, and even he, who was obsessed with leading the perfect moral life, walked a tightrope everyday to get the French to loan us money and supply soldiers for our run at independence; compromise is part of it, even moral.

Ben Franklin?? Obsessed with leading the perfect moral life??? HAHAHAHA!!! That old dude was hornier than Bill Clinton. Twenty one acknowledged illegitimate children. Who knows how many more?

Morals have nothing to do with effectiveness as a diplomat. . . ummmmm. . .international seducer.

Now, the Saudis. The Saudi culture offends many of my dearly held values. Sort of like having a very unsavory character as a partner you can't do without. Saudi individuals I have known have all been admirable people.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

...a friend of mine had a good idea as to what to do with wife beaters and child molesters. Put them in those crash barrels you see at the apex of highway off ramps. Those are the big yellow or blue things that drivers are supposed to hit instead of the guard rail point.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

Self explanatory.....

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

.....wow......say I know that mustache...thats Monica Lewinsky!!

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

Self explanatory.....

That is just plain wrong on so many levels!.........

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

.....its a good thing you can't see his hand in the photo.

 

[QC]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

Ben Franklin?? Obsessed with leading the perfect moral life??? HAHAHAHA!!! That old dude was hornier than Bill Clinton. Twenty one acknowledged illegitimate children. Who knows how many more?

Morals have nothing to do with effectiveness as a diplomat. . . ummmmm. . .international seducer.

JB, I stand by it. I have just about finished reading a very in depth look at Ben's life by Gordon S. Wood. Outstanding read. Yes, Ben was very horny, but he was obsessed with morality and virtue. Obsessed. He wrote of it continually and believed it was his duty. He also believed that he partially failed. My point was that making compromises that may in fact go against your own moral standards is part of the International Diplomacy deal.

From the book: Franklin took his project to achieve moral perfection quite seriously . . . Although Franklin admits that he had not attained moral perfection in his lifetime but had fallen far short of it, "yet I was by the Endeavour a better and happier Man than I otherwise would have been, if I had not attempted it". Also he described it as his "bold and arduous Project of arrving at moral Perfection."

Ben also listed thirteen "virtues"in his Autobiography: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility.

Sorry for the hijack, but JB was laughing at me

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

...I'm with JB on this, Morals don't have anything to do with Diplomatic effectiveness....or any job other than that of a Religious Leader perhaps.
Heck, look at JFK...that guy didn't go more than 5-6 hrs without a 'horizontal interlude' and he was a inciteful and capable politician for the better part.
It all the secret service could do just to keep up with his 'private needs'.

.....but hey, back on point, what about those Saudis with the current Bush Admin? I want to know...are they in cahoots?...and why?

 

[QC]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

You guys are simply missing my point, which is, of course, my fault. I understood your question about George and the Saudis to somehow implicate him as doing business with the devil. An immoral act maybe. The point was and is that one can be a good guy, pursue goodness and morality in one's life and still make personal moral compromises when dealing with International Diplomacy . . .

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Who likes the Saudi's?

....I hear ya' and I'm following you on this QC.
Ok, but what kind of 'international diplomacy' angle are we talking about between those two?
Are they up to something on this?...more info?