Saudi Arabia: He who pays the piper calls the tune

In today's Australian, Saudis' secret agenda doesn't reveal anything we haven't heard before, but it illustrates well how it's done:

It was a donation, a gift, a part payment to subsidise the construction of a building that would become Sydney's Muslim heartbeat: Lakemba mosque. More than 35 years after Sydney cleric Khalil Shami received the cheque, he insists it came with no strings attached. But while the cheque had no tangible conditions in the form of written instructions or binding contracts, the cleric received a message from his donors several months after depositing it.
"They said: 'Please, can you mention the tragedy of the Palestinian people and what's happened to them in your sermon?"' Shami tells Inquirer. "Which is really a very noble cause, a very noble cause, I couldn't see a negative in their request."

The message Shami received from Riyadh brings into question the influence petro-dollars can have on their recipients, whether the money is bankrolling a religious centre, a clerical allowance or Queensland's Griffith University, which was exposed by The Australian last month for seeking a $1.37million Saudi grant, of which $100,000 was received, and offering to keep elements of the deal a secret.

The Saudi Government - largely through its embassy - is believed to have funnelled at least $120 million into Australia since the 1970s to propagate hardline Islam, bankroll radical clerics and build mosques, schools and charitable orgnisations.

But the Saudi cash that has flowed into Australia, that also allegedly has paid the allowance of hardline Canberra cleric Mohammed Swaiti, who has publicly praised jihadists, is dwarfed by the $90 billion Riyadh is believed to have pumped into promoting Islamic fundamentalism internationally.

Of course all of this funding for their point of view doesn't allow a cultural interchange.: To paraphrase what Siggy said in last Friday's podcast: the reason the fundamentalists are supported by the regime is that they are a means for the regime to control society.

And then there's the mysogyny, which subjugates totally one half of the population:

While Saudi Arabia exports its Wahhabi version of Islam to the world, Saudi society groans under the weight of its internal contradictions. The first class of female law students will graduate from King Abdul Aziz University this year, but the Saudi Ministry of Justice prohibits female lawyers from practising. Judges consider women to be lacking in reason and faith, and have refused to allow them to speak in the courtroom because their voices are shameful

Think about that: women's voices are shameful to the Saudis.

Yes, I know, this is not my typical Sunday post, but it had to be said.
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Speaking of last Friday's podcast, Pamela has a post on the latest glamorizing of institutionalized mysogyny on an American magazine: W Cultural Clitorectomy: CAIRO

Of course, why be bothered by things such when there's plant dignity to worry about?
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The Carnival of the Insanities is up. Go check it out.
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This week's WSJ's Five Best Books, on baseball, selected by Nicholas Dawidoff:



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Today's shoes, Aerosoles Women's Soul Mate Thong in silver:

The Beeb calls them "conservatives"

The news: A bunch of guys go to the mall to check out the girls, and they get arrested after the mutaween filed a complaint.

Saudi men arrested for 'flirting'

Prosecutors in Saudi Arabia have begun investigating 57 young men who were arrested on Thursday for flirting with girls at shopping centres in Mecca.

The men are accused of wearing indecent clothes, playing loud music and dancing in order to attract the attention of girls, the Saudi Gazette reported.

The How does the Beeb describe the mutaween?

The mutaween enforce Saudi Arabia's conservative brand of Islam, Wahhabism.

Backwards, repressive, sexually frustrated, yes. "Conservative"? Only in the Beeb's perverse eyes.

Another attempt of the Beeb to associate American conservatism with Islamist backwardness?

Probably.



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Sarko pushes for French naval base in Abu Dhabi, sells nuclear power

Sarko's been trying hard to re-establish France as a power in the Middle East, and has plans for a French naval base in Abu Dhabi.

First, there are the nuclear deals with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Libya, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco:
Sarkozy Pushes Nuclear Energy in Mideast

Currently the world's most aggressive salesman for nuclear power, Sarkozy has visited multiple Muslim states in the last six weeks -- including the globe's biggest oil producers -- to peddle French nuclear technology or make multibillion-dollar deals.

"Why should Arab countries be deprived of the energy of the future?"

Why indeed, when they have the mullahs breathing down their necks? Especially if companies that develop and build the nuclear power plants are owned primarily by the French government?

Sarko's nuclear proliferation plans don't stop with a vision of a Mediterranean cooperation council (whatever that may mean),

Argentina, Chile, Vietnam and Indonesia also are reportedly discussing the possibility of buying French-designed reactors.

May I indulge in a little speculation? Let's say that Hugo persuades the FARC to release French-Colombian citizen Ingrid Betancourt. Woudln't Venezuela be included in this group?

But I digress.

As part of Sarko's Middle East vision, he's signed a deal with Abu Dhabi for a permanent French naval base:

This projects France into the complex politics of the Gulf, identifying it even more closely with Gulf Arab countries which have expressed concern about the future policies of Iran.

President Sarkozy appears willing to accept that this exposes France to the risks involved in such a sensitive area, highlighted by the confrontation between Iranian speedboats and US naval ships recently. There is also a dispute between Abu Dhabi and Iran over three small islands in the Strait of Hormuz. The president said the base was agreed at the request of the Emirates.

That's in addition to the two nuclear power reactors that the French will build in Abu Dhabi.

Nuclear proliferation, and military expansion, a la francaise.

Never mind a mild whiff of realpolitik

The French base agreement coincides with a major visit to the region by President Bush, during which he has criticised Iran.

France might be seen as aligning itself more openly with the US, which maintains its own large base in Bahrain for the Fifth Fleet and which has also been selling arms to Gulf countries.

Speculation welcome in the comments section.


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"Israeli terrorism", Mr. President?

Shame:


(Video via Gateway Pundit)
Text of Bush’s Remarks at Annapolis Conference:

We express our determination to bring an end to bloodshed, suffering and decades of conflict between our peoples; to usher in a new era of peace, based on freedom, security, justice, dignity, respect and mutual recognition; to propagate a culture of peace and nonviolence; to confront terrorism and incitement, whether committed by Palestinians or Israelis.

And, sure as rain, Israelis will be forced into yet more concessions: Elder of Ziyon looks at the map.

The NYSun:

The sad fact is that Annapolis is sideshow to a larger battle that has to be won before anything appropriate in the way of peace negotiations can take place between Israel and her Arab enemies. Yesterday, while everyone was focusing on Annapolis, Lieutenant General Lute, Mr. Bush's "tsar" for the Battle of Iraq, quietly announced, as our Nicholas Wapshott reported yesterday, that the administration and the Iraqis are about to commence talks on withdrawing American troops in advance of the end of the U.N. mandate in 2008. The important, the most urgent battle in the coming seasons will be securing the victory that our GIs have been crafting in on the battlefield there and advancing the spread of democracy in the neighboring lands. What peace can be established between Israel and her neighbors while a regime exists in Iran to stoke the arsenals of the terrorists in Gaza and Lebanon, the latter of which, our Benny Avni reported earlier in the week, is the more logical place for Annapolis to focus. Messrs. Bush and Olmert are, sadly, the only players on the Middle Eastern battlefield with the kind of credentials — democratic credentials — that really matter.

Over in Saudi Arabia, the authorities have released more than 1,500 reformed extremists who underwent counseling.


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Hugo smackdown II: Now it's the Saudi king or "Por que no te callas?" in Arabic

First it was the King of Spain at the Latin American Summit in Chile, now it's King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the OPEC Summit telling Hugo to put a sock on it:

Chavez's OPEC Speech Spurs Rebuke From Saudi King:

Venezuela's firebrand President Hugo Chavez appears to have earned for the second time in a week a rebuke from a king, with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah implying he shouldn't seek to use the oil cartel OPEC as a political weapon.

Mr. Chavez also warned the United States that oil prices would further surge if the U.S. contemplates an attack against his country or Iran.

Exactly a week after Mr. Chavez was told to "shut up" by the King of Spain, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah said the 13-member Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries cartel -- Ecuador rejoined the group this weekend -- shouldn't be used as a tool for conflict.

His remarks came in a speech minutes after Mr. Chavez told fellow leaders of OPEC Saturday that it must echo its values at the time of its creation and "assert itself as an active political agent."

The BBC:

Political agenda

The summit saw differences about the future direction of the exporters' group.

President Chavez and his Ecuadorean counterpart, Rafael Correa, whose country rejoined Opec at the summit, had both pleaded for a more political agenda for the group, but ran into opposition from US ally Saudi Arabia.

King Abdullah, the head of state of the host nation, Saudi Arabia said: "Those who want Opec to take advantage of its position are forgetting that Opec has always acted moderately and wisely.

"Oil shouldn't be a tool for conflict, it should be a tool for development."

The final declaration stressed the importance of world peace for the stability of oil prices.

A division had also emerged during the summit between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Iranian officials wanted the final statement to express concern about the weakness of the dollar.

In a post-summit news conference, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that all Opec countries showed interest in converting their cash reserves into other currencies.

But Saudi officials were against including any such remarks in the declaration. One is reported to have warned that it could add to the pressure on the dollar.

I would appreciate if any of my readers could translate "Por que no te callas?" into Arabic.

UPDATE
Via Larwyn, Myrtus translated: Limada la taskat? = لماذا لا تسكت؟
لماذا لا تسكت؟



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Saudi punishes gang rape victim with 200 lashes

Saudi Arabia: A Woman's Misery in the Merciless Kingdom

(h/t Siggy

Two girls, the Saudi Religious Police, a mobile phone and a can of pepper spray

Jules Crittenden and Blue Star Chronicles have it:
Saudi Religious Police Attacked by Girls (emphasis added)

Dammam, Asharq Al-Awsat- Members of Khobar's Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice were the victims of an attack by two Saudi females, Asharq Al-Awsat can reveal.

According to the head of the commission in Khobar, two girls pepper sprayed members of the commission after they had tried to offer them advice.

Head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in the Eastern province Dr. Mohamed bin Marshood al-Marshood, told Asharq Al Awsat that two of the Commission's employees were verbally insulted and attacked by two inappropriately-dressed females, in the old market in Prince Bandar street, an area usually crowded with shoppers during the month of Ramadan.

Notice how the crowd didn't take the Religious Police's side, either.

According to Dr. Al-Marshood, the two commission members approached the girls in order to "politely" advice and guide them regarding their inappropriate clothing.

It gets better:

Consequently, the two girls started verbally abusing the commission members, which then lead to one of the girls pepper-spraying them in the face as the other girl filmed the incident on her mobile phone, while continuing to hurl insults at them.

YouTube, please.

The Eastern Province's head of the commission also revealed that with the help of the police his two employees were able to control the situation.

The two females were then escorted to the police station where they apologized for the attack, were cautioned and then released.

Way to go, girls!

I predict that demand for pepper spray and video phones will continue to increase among Saudi females.

And then there's the handy-dandy Taser C2, especially designed "for independent, self-reliant women", available in four designer colors for $299.95. I wonder if they ship to Saudi.

Five years ago Saudi Arabia's religious police stopped 15 schoolgirls from leaving a blazing building, and stopped men who tried to help the girls and warned "it is sinful to approach them".

Things are changing.
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TOMORROW at 9PM Eastern
Cinnamon Stillwell and Rachel Ehrenfeld, author of Funding Evil: How Terrorism is Financed - and How to Stop It will discuss libel tourism with Siggy and I

Join us!


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Intifada T-shirts, and today's items

In the NY Post:
CITY PRINCIPAL IS 'REVOLTING'
TIED TO 'INTIFADA NYC' SHIRTS

Activists with ties to the principal of the city's controversial new Arabic-themed school are hawking T- shirts that glorify Palestinian terror, The Post has learned.

The inflammatory tees boldly declare "Intifada NYC" - apparently a call for a Gaza-style uprising in the Big Apple.

The organization selling the shirts, Arab Women Active in Art and Media, shares office space on Brooklyn's Third Avenue with the Saba Association of American Yemenis.

Dhabah "Debbie" Almontaser, principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy - which is scheduled to open in Brooklyn next month - is a board member and spokeswoman for Saba.

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Excuse Me? "God Has Summoned Hillary Rodham Clinton"?
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Walid Phares proposes An Idealistic Alternative to the Saudi Arms Deal (h/t Larwyn)

Dedicate some significant funds to support the Iranian opposition, both inside the country and overseas. Establish powerful broadcasts in Farsi, Kurdish, Arabic, Azeri and in other ethnic languages directed at the Iranian population. That alone will open a Pandora's box inside Iran. Realists may find it hard to believe, but supporting the Iranian opposition (which is still to be identified) will pay off much better than AWACS flying over deserts.

Slate substantial sums to be spent in southern Iraq to support the anti-Khomeinist Shiia, the real shield against the forthcoming Pasdaran offensive. Such monies distributed wisely on civil society activists and on open anti-Khomeinist groups, would build a much stronger defense against Ahmedinijad's ambitions.

Lavish funding should be granted to the Syrian liberal opposition to pressure the Assad regime into backing off from supporting Terrorism. Without a Mukhabarat regime in Damascus, the bridge between Tehran and Hezb'allah would crumble. Hence, the Syrian opposition is much worth being backed in its own home than for Saudi Arabia to fight future networks in its own home.

Allocate ample funding to the units of the Iraqi army that show the most efficiency in cracking down on terrorists, and which prove to be lawful and loyal to a strong central Government, pledging to defend its borders, particularly with regard to Iran. That would include the moderate Sunnis in the center and the Kurdish and other minority forces in the North. A strong multiethnic Iraq, projecting a balance of power with Iran's regime, is the best option for the Peninsula.

Grant abundant aid to the Lebanese Government, the Cedars Revolution NGOs and the Lebanese Army to enable them to contain Hezb'allah on Lebanese soil. Earmark some of these grants to the Shia opposition to Nasrallah inside his own areas. When Hezb'allah is isolated by Lebanon's population, Arab moderates around the region can sleep much better at night.

Spend real money on de-radicalization programs inside the Kingdom and across the region. With dollars spent on moderate Imams and not on the readicals, Riyadh can shake off the radical Salafi clerics, and have an impact the Jihadists' followers. By doing so, it will prevent Jihadism from becoming (as it has already) the only other option on the inside, if the Iranian axis will put pressure on the country.

Forward meaningful sums to support the current Somali Government against the Islamic Courts and help the moderates in Eritrea and Sudan. The best defense against radicalism coming from the horn of Africa is to support the moderates in East of the continent.

Invite the US military to abandon Qatar as a regional base and to relocate to the Eastern provinces of the Kingdom, with as many billions of dollars as required to help in reinstallation and deployment facing Iran's threat. A military attack by the Iranian regime on Saudi Arabia would then become a direct attack on the United States.

With the remaining billions, the Saudi Government would renew, remodel, and retrain its forces so that along with its allies, the US, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Gulf states, they would deter an Iranian regime, which will be defeated by its own people.

---------------------------------------------------'Hamas forced professor to convert'

Fatah officials in Ramallah claimed over the weekend that Professor Sana al-Sayegh, who teaches at Palestine University in Gaza City, was kidnapped by Hamas militiamen who forced her to convert to Islam against her will.

The officials said the president of the university, Dr. Zaher Khail, had assisted Hamas in kidnapping the professor.

---------------------------------------------------Matt has the Real FOB Falcon video.---------------------------------------------------The real guy behind The Fake Steve Jobs, via Larwyn: Senior Forbes Editor Outed As Mystery Blogger---------------------------------------------------
Via Maria, Western European business travellers will be forced to give 48 hours’ notice of their plans to visit the US
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Today at noon, my guest will be Captain Ed Morrissey of Captain's Quarters
Don't miss it!

Disquieting thought of the day, in two parts

Part 1: Another Russian sub blows up, while Putin spreads his brand of charisma in Guatemala and sells nine subs to Venezuela.

Part 2: US 'plans huge Saudi arms deal'.