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Paul in Saudi · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 404 Location: Doha, Qatar

The Arab News reported (an it was confirmed by a Warden Message) that an American was shot at in town yesterday. Rumor is he was an American government employee returning from business at a local bank. He was supposedly in an armored car.

The police said that the shots were fired by a pistol. (Lets all say it together.) 'The suspects escaped.'

You know unless there is a beheading involved it hardly appears on our radar screens anymore.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I think this was the same story reported by Reuters and AP. He was a military guard from the Embassy, it said. Two people in the car. But, you are right, it doesn't take long before just being shot at is pretty much ignored.

VS

Saudi4Ever · Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 135

Shooting is an everyday occurance in America, why should it get special coverage here?

Jim Bigelow · Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 175 Location: KSA

The fact that shootings are so uncommon in Saudi, is the very reason it gets 'special coverage'. Confused

shadowfax · Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 6:26 pm Post subject:

And it is the Saudi forum after all. Confused

ntropy · Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Posts: 671 Location: ghurba

Plus the fact that we're all expats and expats are THE target, unlike the States where the target may be varied.

When it's specifically YOU being shot at, you tend to pay more attention and want more information

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Ntropy

Like the new avatar. What city is it?

VS

Gnome · Joined: 05 May 2004 Posts: 74

VS,

Since Ntropy hasn't answered yet, may I?

The picture shows the entrance to the old city of Sa'na the capital of Yemen. It is called Babal Yemen. Or Baba Yemen? It has been declared an international heritage site. Nice picture. But, it doesn't show all the garbage in the streets and the poverty.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Thanks Gnome,

I thought that might be what it is. Well, having lived in Cairo for many years, I know about the 'third world' tendency to not worry much about public 'littering.' I wonder if the oil business will eventually make a dent in the poverty. But, I do digress off topic again. sorry

VS

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

ntropy · Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Posts: 671 Location: ghurba

Yep, VS, they got it right. It's Bab al-Yemen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and reputedly the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.

The oil reserves in Yemen are miniscule compared to neighbours so no it's not making a lot of difference. Also a huge population for a country that can't grow a lot. Mostly under 20.