Thanks for the insight Kevin M

Submitted by RPaine (Australia), Apr 6, 2006 at 21:36

Kevin M,

Thanks for sharing from your experiences with the Saudis. I don't hate them either, and neither do I trust them "as far as I can throw" one of them. At the end of the day, it's not about them or how they think or behave, rather it should be about us (the West) - we need to improve our approach! - and how we encourage them to behave through our actions.

Personally, I think that we need a completely new paradigm in which to operate - PC is killing us!! - and create the right path based on what we stand for - assuming we stand for things like Transparency, Freedom of Speech, Tolerance of peoples and good-serving religions, Humanity, Democracy (but not "Sharia" based!), Respect for man, The Golden Rule, and last but not least, a decent future for our children as well as others from around the world. And perhaps, as the Samurais taught: perfection is to be strived for endlessly, even though it is not completely attainable.

We MUST be crystal clear, precise and show spine, for the Saudis like so many others on this planet don't appreciate American kindness/charitable effort, they only see this as WEAKNESS. And a weakness that can be exploited to their benefit is deadly for us. At the end of the day, its just negotiations; but allowing them to gain in confidence, strength and buy more friends can only make things worse, (for Muslims) the Saudis further become more legitimate in their quest to crystallize/unite Muslims against the US/West; and other countries learn how to wage 'war' on the us all.

Dhimmitude is not my cup of tea.

Best regards,
RPaine

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