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Saudi "Day of Rage"
Posted: 26 Feb 2011, 03:05
by lurker
Posted: 27 Feb 2011, 13:03
by Aurora
The Saudi regime also has resources to spend on its people. Oil prices are high and rising. On Wednesday, the king announced massive social benefits packages totalling more than $35 billion and including unemployment relief, housing subsidies, funds to support study abroad and a raft of new job opportunities created by the state. Clearly the king is nervous, but he has goodies to spread around.
King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud (phew) will need more than a few 'trinkets' to pacify the masses this time I'm afraid.
The Guardian - 25/02/11
As Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, a reformist member of the royal family, told the BBC last week, ordinary Saudis want a share of power, not just to be the beneficiaries of it.
Posted: 27 Feb 2011, 18:50
by Aurora
Reuters - 27/02/11
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has ordered that state employees on temporary labor contracts be given permanent jobs, in another apparent bid to insulate the kingdom from a wave of protests in the Arab world.
The top oil exporter has so far escaped major protests against poverty, corruption and oppression that have spread through the region, toppling entrenched leaders in Egypt and Tunisia and reaching neighbors Bahrain and Oman.
Abdullah returned home on Wednesday from three months of medical treatment abroad for back treatment and unveiled benefits for Saudis worth around $36 billion to address social pressures such as unemployment and housing.
Article continues ...
Too little. Too Late.
Posted: 27 Feb 2011, 21:33
by Aurora
The Guardian - 27/02/11
Why a king's ransom is not enough for Saudi Arabia's protesters.
Article continues ...
Posted: 28 Feb 2011, 00:02
by UndercoverElephant
OK, you win. If KA of SA falls to a revolution then this is going to be a very interesting year.
Posted: 01 Mar 2011, 16:25
by happychicken
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12594032
Meanwhile a Facebook site calling for a "day of rage" in Saudi Arabia on 11 March has seen its number of subscribers increase from 400 to 12,000 in recent days
.
Posted: 01 Mar 2011, 17:28
by UndercoverElephant
It is certainly a fascinating situation. There was an Iranian author on Newsnight last night explaining how the Saudi royals simply do not grasp what they are up against. These are people for whom a telephone was a relative novelty not so very long ago. They understand nothing about the world of the internet. They are simply not capable of understanding that attempting to buy off dissent will not going on working forever.
However...I think it may work for a little while longer.
Posted: 01 Mar 2011, 19:07
by Prono 007
UndercoverElephant wrote:OK, you win. If KA of SA falls to a revolution then this is going to be a very interesting year.
'Interesting' ??? That's got to be the understatement of the year.
Posted: 01 Mar 2011, 20:38
by Ludwig
Prono 007 wrote:UndercoverElephant wrote:OK, you win. If KA of SA falls to a revolution then this is going to be a very interesting year.
'Interesting' ??? That's got to be the understatement of the year.
I suspect next year will be an order of magnitude more interesting still.
Posted: 01 Mar 2011, 20:43
by Aurora
Ludwig wrote:Prono 007 wrote:UndercoverElephant wrote:OK, you win. If KA of SA falls to a revolution then this is going to be a very interesting year.
'Interesting' ??? That's got to be the understatement of the year.
I suspect next year will be an order of magnitude more interesting still.
Bloody Mayans!
Posted: 01 Mar 2011, 23:48
by snow hope
I think we are getting close to a step change in our way of living. That is the polite way of saying I think TSWHTF soon!
Lots of different things seem to be building and the pressure is rising. I just get this feeling that things are coming to the brink. I hope I am wrong.
If it doesn't happen during the next 3 weeks, then I expect things will still rise to the boil later this year and into 2012. SH1T is coming I am afraid.
Posted: 02 Mar 2011, 18:16
by Lord Beria3
Agreed snow hope... the current world order will become obviously bankrupt by 2012/2013... what is going to start to replace it is anather matter all together.
Posted: 02 Mar 2011, 19:25
by Aurora
Posted: 03 Mar 2011, 12:41
by emordnilap
There's four Friday the thirteenths before then, too.
Posted: 03 Mar 2011, 13:13
by DominicJ
There was an Iranian author on Newsnight last night explaining how the Saudi royals simply do not grasp what they are up against. These are people for whom a telephone was a relative novelty not so very long ago.
Right....
You may find theres some Persian Racial Superiority involved there.
Iran has a vested interest here.
