Job Discussion Forums

medway · Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Posts: 17

of course, the Bureau for the Prevention of Vice and Enouragement of Virtue does its best to keep people uninformed here in KSA...I noticed that even Al-Jazeera can't keep critical articles up on their webpages for long.
However, Asia Times continues to be one of the best sources of commentary on the Middle East and Asia... see
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/GD12Ak01.html
This is by John Bradley, who used to edit the Arab Times, don't know his current status.

www.atimes.com
[especially, watch out for SPENGLER!]

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Bradley left the 'Arab News' a couple of years ago; I don't know the reason for his falling out. He had bullshitted on this forum, and grossly overstated his journalistic qualifications but that's life. I don't know how many copies his book sold.

There is nothing in his article that has not been splashed over all the pages of the Saudi press and the internet. Many have thought of the possibility of the situation in Saudi taking a turn for the worse when the Saudis fighting the Americans in Iraq return, as happened when the arab mujadaheen returned to Egypt and Saudi in the 90s after expelling the Russians. However, it doesn't look like the Americans are planning to withdraw with their tail between their legs anytime soon, so there are still plenty of targets over the border.

It may be that the Saudi authorities have decided to crack down on armed robberies by a few executions (the Al-Jouf executions were of a terrorist network). The Somalis claimed they were unaware they were sentenced to death, and the three Sri Lankans facing the death penalty in the next few days also appeared to be unaware they were facing capital charges until well after the sentence was carried out.

medway · Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Posts: 17

I just got three replies from you , as though one wouldn't cover it all.
Well, I hope you are right about the jihadi having their hands full over the border. I wouldn't want them to get bored or homesick.

As for your disclaimer on speaking officially, I can say as a new arrival that you essentially put the lid on any open discussion of JIC or much else by stating that you are the guy who sorts the CVs , and if anyone wants to apply, they should apply to you. Can't you see that you have two hats on this board? It might be better to be your normal ascerbic self and leave the recruiting in the office.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Cleopatra · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 3:35 pm Post subject:

[quote]of course, the Bureau for the Prevention of Vice and Enouragement of Virtue does its best to keep people uninformed here in KSA...

medway · Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Posts: 17

I ususally read Google News and open links from there...a GoogleNews search for Saudi usually turns up everything that is published on KSA. However, some articles are still mysteriously unavailable, like the Al Jazeera link I mentioned.

There is still a lot of inertia towards the Information Revolution at the local level however...for example when I forwarded news of the Compound bombings through the Jubail Industrial internal email I was reprimanded for 'inappropriate use' of the system!

I think the availability of information from abroad , the fact that people here can see clearly how others live in neighboring countries , is the number one force for change, however much the vested interests may kick and scream at being dragged in to the 21st century.

The Barbarian · Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 21

Medway, its interesting to read your mild and perfectly valid critique of Mr Jones's affairs on here (re: 2 hats). I gather from a remote location in terms of my involvement with Mr Jones that many people consider him to be a litte wilted 'in the office'. I think eslcafe forums may be his bit on the side who diplomatically reassures 'ooh, you are soo big.'