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johnslat · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 11:09 pm Post subject: No Kingdom come here

And now 30,000 private US citizens are being told to "consider leaving" the Kingdom.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=2&u=/ap/20031217/ap_on_re_mi_ea/us_saudi_pullout

( Thursday, Dec. 18th edit - more on the situation)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=3&u=/ap/20031218/ap_on_re_mi_ea/us_saudi_pullout

while those making plans to go there are being advised to "defer any such travel".

The usual government "protect our backs" strategy, so, if something does happen they can always say: " Hey, we told you to leave"? Don't know, but it's got to be making at least some USAers (and maybe other ex-pats) over there concerned, I'd say.

Regards,
John

P.S. I wanted to add another option, but the site wouldn't let me. It was

4. Are you kidding? This "warning" is ridiculous.

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

The big Saudi pullout:

Are Bushy and his boys (+ Condi) calling this Operation Coitus Interruptus?

I had no choice in the matter when it came to SARS and China (I had to go). In the future, when I work independently, I would hope to be one of the last to leave.

johnslat · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 3:29 am Post subject: The big pull out

Dear fat_chris,
If it is "Operation Coitus Interruptus" it's easy to see who is getting screwed, so to speak.
Regards,
John

ohman · Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 239 Location: B' Um Fouk, Egypt

As long as I can still buy lithium over the counter, I'm staying.

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 1:24 pm Post subject:

I love when they tell people to "defer all but essential travel to the Kingdom". I mean, it's not as if people say "Hey, I must pop over to Riyadh with the boyfriend for a wild weekend on the booze!"

All travel to KSA is "essential" in the sense that "Westerners" go there because they have to: that's where they work. I agree: this is all about government's covering themselves.

Mark100 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 441

I have been adopting the third option for many years now.
I am always waiting and seeing and still coming back.
I attended another masalama last night.
There has been over the last few years a dramatic increase in the number of westerners leaving the kingdom especially here in the eastern province.
The writing is on the proverbial wall.
Saudi salaries are not keeping up with other countries and for the pain of living here with all the problems it is becoming increasingly less attractive to potential workers.
I would strongly advise against coming here.

Pilot in Command · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 50

AMEN, Mark!

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

OHMAN:

You can buy lithium over the counter Cool

??? And is staying put in Saudi conditional on being able to get lithium over the counter?
Hmm... so what do I tell the chemist? Your finest bag of Lithium my good man or does it have another name?

johnslat · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2003 2:01 pm Post subject: A drug on the market

Dear Jim,
I'm not sure about lithium, but I know you can get Prozac without a prescription. Not from personal experience, admittedly, but a friend there regularly bought it and I saw the pills.
Regards,
John

johnslat · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2003 2:35 pm Post subject: Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly

Hey - finally a decent column from Mr. Friedman, who still manages to make a lot of sense when he's not riding his Iraqi (let's spread democracy throughout the Middle East, one country at a time) hobbyhorse.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/21/opinion/21FRIE.html?th

Regards,
John

ohman · Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 239 Location: B' Um Fouk, Egypt

Jim,
Just p*ssing about with the lithium comment. Most anti depressants seem to be available without a prescription, as is Viagra, uh, er, or so I've been told.

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

Ohman: Lol..but it's true about the Prozac! Saw it in the local chemist tonight!