We see very little of what happens there, because news reporters are usually forbidden to visit SA. They made an exception when they held the first local elections a few years ago, but I haven't heard if the experiment was regarded as successful or will be repeated.

I guess what I'm saying is that we can't assume "no news" means much of anything in SA.

The big question in my mind is, is Saudi Arabia still letting people recruit and train jihadists there? Because if they are, then in my mind they're no better than ISIS. (Which doesn't mean I'd go to war with them yet, but does mean I'd look the other way while they and ISIS beat each other up.)

In particular, are Muslims who visit SA for the Haj still getting "radicalized" while they are there?

I always loose against, "The glass is too full." They are so certain that what they know is Cosmic Law that I cannot make any headway against that knowledge.

You are doing a good job at chipping away at facades. I agree with you on the spectral nature of Muslim philosophy and potential.

Jan

Thanks, Jan. It's fun converting people to the concepts of free enterprise, value for value, etc. The challenging part is forcing them to (in Master Yoda's words) unlearn what they have learned.

Good for you - with respect to both teaching values as well as engineering and with respect to...respect.

Jan

I have seen very little progress by the Saudis. They maintain one of the most repressive of societies, especially when it comes to women. Because of the American dollar, they pretend to be our friends. Like my Granddad would say, "With friends like this, who needs enemies?"

And I'm sure his successor will continue the practice of shoveling money to the Wahhabis by the truckload, just to keep their cushy royal lives.
Never mind the terrorism it funds; as long as it doesn't touch us.
Rot in hell, your highness.

but they are still muslim and will all they can to try and take over as they are successfully doing in europe. they should be deported even if they are born here

According to the government's unsupportable, physically impossible conspiracy theory.

And if that's the case, know that I hate diplomacy.

Perhaps when Atlantis exists, my Gulch job will be diplomat.

As my wife routinely reminds me to do. Fortunately at Florida Tech, in the midst of teaching my engineering courses, I have been able to slip in some Gulch perspective on free enterprise, value for value trading, etc. while becoming the most popular faculty member on campus amongst the students.

Many of those who will go against the Muslim world will choose to remain in America, as quite a few do.

I am so prepared.

I agree with your agreement.

The only problem is that the king's successor is his 79 year old half brother, who is purported to have Parkinson's or Dementia. That means that either he could back more stringent Wahabbist ideology, or be overthrown if he proves more liberal, based on charges of insanity by more radical family members. Either way, it means that modern changes to Saudi society still have a long time to wait.

Agreed.

Islam is apparently not a peaceful religion. Not all Muslims are terrorists but the terrorists who want to destroy America and Isreal are Muslims. Because of traitorous teachers in our schools and universities being anti-American is kind od a fad among our young people. I'm not talking about all teachers but there are revisionists in most schools. My daughter is a freshman in high school and she has two teachers who tell their student's they are stupid if they believe in God or support republicans.

IndianaGary when you say turn your back on them i expect you mean EVERY LAST ONE, since Mr. Brenner thinks some will go against the muslim world. If he does he is wrong.

That's a big time note!

Therefore, I would never turn my back on them and would be prepared to defend myself at all times.

And people in hell want ice water.

What is of note is that the vast majority of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi...

The king is dead. Long live the king.

Here is what the king said five years ago on the subject of Wahhabism: "there is no such thing."

http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0...

The Saudi's are interested in maintaining their rulership. They appease the fanatics among them while all the while giving lip service to the western world and our desire for freedom and democracy. They are not our friends.