Saudis mobilise thousands of troops to quell growing revolt

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 10 Mar 2011, 21:22

maudibe wrote:Shhhhh... take the Beebs lead and talk softly.

Oooh does that mean I can carry a large stick

?

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » 11 Mar 2011, 06:05

Mean Mr Mustard wrote:Just to say that I do appreciate the continuing Aurora Newsfeed service. Glad you stayed on after all, despite the 'irritants'....

Stayed on? I can't stay away.

Thanks anyway.

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » 11 Mar 2011, 06:27

Friday - 11/03/11

Dow tumbles below 12,000 mark after Saudi police fired on protesters

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/busines ... 6019506310

Saudi Arabia prepares for 'day of rage' protests

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12708487

Witnesses: Saudi forces fire on protesters, injure 3

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast ... .protests/

Signs of dissent becoming more visible among Saudi Arabian youths

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02376.html

Firework or damp squib?

IMHO, today will be an historic day in Middle Eastern politics which will continue to have a major effect on global economies for many years to come.

On the other hand, perhaps I've totally misjudged the situation:

Brent below $114 as fears of Saudi unrest subside

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/mar ... 678478.cms

Mean Mr Mustard · Post by **Mean Mr Mustard** » 11 Mar 2011, 09:08

ATTENTION YOU 'ORRIBLE LOT. HOFFICER PRESENT!

CinC Fleet says

"The Secretary of State made it very clear when he took over, that he regarded the Gulf region as the second most important after Afghanistan. I would agree. It's very important. We have been there over 30 years, we have seen the tanker wars [when Iran and Iraq attacked each other's ships in the 1980s] and various other things over that time."

Now there are new threats. If the sea lanes closed, even for a short period, the UK would be hit hard, and quickly. It would have such an impact with a 'just enough, just in time UK', - if we didn't have gas coming into this country we would run out in two weeks, so the lights start going out, or the shelves become empty."

AT EASE.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/mar/1 ... -interview

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 11 Mar 2011, 12:49

Mean Mr Mustard wrote:ATTENTION YOU 'ORRIBLE LOT. HOFFICER PRESENT!

CinC Fleet says

"The Secretary of State made it very clear when he took over, that he regarded the Gulf region as the second most important after Afghanistan. I would agree. It's very important. We have been there over 30 years, we have seen the tanker wars [when Iran and Iraq attacked each other's ships in the 1980s] and various other things over that time."

Now there are new threats. If the sea lanes closed, even for a short period, the UK would be hit hard, and quickly. It would have such an impact with a 'just enough, just in time UK', - if we didn't have gas coming into this country we would run out in two weeks, so the lights start going out, or the shelves become empty."

AT EASE.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/mar/1 ... -interview

In other words " Please Sir, we made a mistake. Can we have our carriers and Harriers back?"

DominicJ · Post by **DominicJ** » 11 Mar 2011, 16:00

The Prague Spring and The Hungarian Revolution were both crushed by the Soviet Union.

Theres little reason to believe the Sunni dominated Armed Forces of two Sunni Dominated States wont quite enjoy the chance to crack the whip on a rebellious Shia populace.

That passive resistance sometimes works against the UK doesnt make it a valid defence in every situation.
Most of the time, the unarmed peaceful protest is just mown down.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 11 Mar 2011, 18:09

DominicJ wrote:The Prague Spring and The Hungarian Revolution were both crushed by the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union. Remind me, what happened to that?

madibe · Post by **madibe** » 11 Mar 2011, 18:37

Probably not a good day for a revolution. The world will not be looking.

Unfortunately this means that crimes against humanity will probably slip on by.

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » 12 Mar 2011, 06:45

The Guardian - 11/03/11

Saudi Arabian security forces quell 'day of rage' protests

Heavy police presence and official warnings deter protests in Riyadh and result in small demonstrations in eastern provinces.

Article continues ...

Were we wrong or was Friday the 11th March only the first round?

Meanwhile:

Wall Street Journal - 11/03/11

Antigovernment activists in Yemen mounted the largest demonstration in the capital to date Friday, one day after President Ali Abdullah Saleh offered political concessions that failed to placate protesters.

More than 100,000 men, women and children took to the streets to insist Mr. Saleh step down—the one demand the president declines to accept.

Article continues ...

happychicken · Post by **happychicken** » 12 Mar 2011, 08:56

I've come across a quite a few websites saying that the 11th March day of rage has been postponed: -

http://www.businessinsider.com/investme ... age-2011-3

http://www.buzzfeed.com/upi/saudi-day-o ... tponed-sxr

http://greenislamicowl.blogspot.com/201 ... poned.html

Though none say when it's been postponed until

Lord Beria3 · Post by **Lord Beria3** » 12 Mar 2011, 09:33

Looks to me like the security forces have nuzzled the leaders of the 'Day of Rage'!

Probably good news, after all, a collapse of SA will only lead to fundamentalism and chaos.

nexus · Post by **nexus** » 12 Mar 2011, 09:35

Surely you mean MUZZLED.

Nuzzling can be quite nice

I doubt that what has happened to the leaders of the Day of Rage is quite nice. In fact one of them got shot.

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » 12 Mar 2011, 12:11

The Guardian - 12/03/11

Saudis ignored calls for protests on Friday because of tight security and fears about manipulation by extremists.

Article continues ...

madibe · Post by **madibe** » 12 Mar 2011, 17:50

As I say, the world is not looking.

To be honest, the media circus around Japan is starting to wear thin... the only thing they are coveing is Japan and Football... amazing - it is as if the rest of the world news has stopped. Someone mentioned about being only able to cope with one crisis at a time...

Even the events in the ME have been put on the back burner.

I think it is more to do with the media focusing on only one issue (serious and heartbreaking though it is).

Ludwig · Post by **Ludwig** » 12 Mar 2011, 18:41

maudibe wrote:As I say, the world is not looking.

To be honest, the media circus around Japan is starting to wear thin... the only thing they are coveing is Japan and Football... amazing - it is as if the rest of the world news has stopped. Someone mentioned about being only able to cope with one crisis at a time...

Even the events in the ME have been put on the back burner.

I think it is more to do with the media focusing on only one issue (serious and heartbreaking though it is).

Be fair, it is a big story, and it's still developing. Coverage of Libya was already being wound down (for the time being) before the earthquake.

In the end, news is about big events and big changes. I'm not saying what happens in Libya isn't significant, but if there's a big change there, the media won't be slow in telling us about it (unless of course self-censorship is deemed appropriate, for whatever reason).

These days I tend just to catch the news headlines and the first part of the main story. How much of each day's news am I ever going to remember? Only the general gist. I'm not all that interested in the outcome of each individual battle in Libya. If a news story really grabs my interest, I'll generally read a book about it.