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doner · Joined: 21 Jan 2010 Posts: 179

It will no doubt come as no surprise that King Abdullah is the most popular leader not only in Saudi but everywhere. IN Jordan he received a wopping 92 per cent.

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=132666&d=9&m=2&y=2010

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

One wonders how much Pew research knows about the tendency in the culture to always figure out what questioners want to hear... and give it to them.

The analysis of the results was LOL stuff...

VS

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I think King Abdullah is genuinely popular and well-liked by many of his subjects. That may not fit in with the vision that many in the West hold of KSA.

johnslat · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:27 pm Post subject:

Proving yet once again that, as a previous poster declared:

KING ABDULLAH ROCKS!!!!

Very Happy

Regards,
John

Insubordination · Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 394 Location: Sydney

My Saudi students are always writing in their journals that they love their King. After all, he's paying for their year-long overseas scholarships.

doner · Joined: 21 Jan 2010 Posts: 179

Yet complain bitterly that the money is not enough and so many of the men only end up with diplomas rather than masters.

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

Guys... did you read the article? It wasn't a survey of Saudis, but the rest of the Arab/Muslim world.

Not mention, of course, you weren't expecting any of your students to suggest that they didn't love him and that he didn't... um... rock... were you?

VS

With Malice Toward None · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 250

Yes, compared to Mubarak of Egypt, Gaddafi of Libya, Assad of Syria and Ben Ali of Tunisia the King is a better person. At least there is no pretension- being a real king and a de facto king are two different things. Of course there are other names that they should have considered. Sultan Qaboos is an excellent candidate for the top slot. Astute, relatively austere, friendly and kind to expats, especially the less fortunate ones...
And least rigorous in implementing tough chop-chop laws (to borrow 007's favourite aphorism). Yet, he has, quite a few times, put behind bars people in very high places.. you know people who thought he was not watching..

trapezius · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 5:07 am Post subject:

cmann · Joined: 01 Jan 2009 Posts: 24 Location: Canada

Well I'm sure they all love "Nassar" of Syria, do you mean Bashar Al Assad? Reminds me of a British diplomat I once had dinner with in Aleppo who asked who would be the best leader to take over from Arafat, I said I thought Hanna Ashrawi, he responded: " Is he up to the job?", go figure.

With Malice Toward None · Joined: 20 Oct 2009 Posts: 250

Cmann,
Thanx for the correction Embarassed

Regards,
WMTN.

007 · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:20 pm Post subject: Re: Most popular leader

johnslat · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:35 pm Post subject:

Dear 007,

"The good news is that King Abdullah is still the king of the Magic Kingdom, and Uncle Sam (Mr Bush) is not anymore the president of USA!"

Which is one of the main reasons why democracy is usually superior to regency.

Or, to quote Churchill:

"Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." (from a House of Commons speech on Nov. 11, 1947)

Regards,
John

007 · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:48 pm Post subject:

Well, Churchill was a prime minister of her majesty the Queen!
Her majesty the Queen is still the Queen, Churchill died, and Uncle Sam is not anymore the president of USA!
With or without democracy, Kings and Queens are always superiors! Laughing

johnslat · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 2:36 pm Post subject:

Dear 007,

"Her majesty the Queen is still the Queen . . ."

Have you encountered the word "figurehead" before?

Regards,
John