The Politics Thread

[Montreal Wanderer]

If you knew anything about the subject, you'd be frightening. We sold him arms to fight Iran, as the Americans were scared of the two being friends, seeing as they own about 85% of the wolrds oil between them.

85%??? Scarcely - Saudi Arabian has more than both combined and, believe it or not, Canada has more than either of them. Still, they do have a lot together - about 20% of the world's known oil reserves..

[thebish]

If you knew anything about the subject, you'd be frightening. We sold him arms to fight Iran, as the Americans were scared of the two being friends, seeing as they own about 85% of the wolrds oil between them.

85%??? Scarcely - Saudi Arabian has more than both combined and, believe it or not, Canada has more than either of them. Still, they do have a lot together - about 20% of the world's known oil reserves..

I believe the whole of the middle east has just over 50% of the world's oil reserves.... so - yes, given that includes Saudi Arabia - the biggest oil-daddy by a very long chalk - then LK is exaggerating slightly!

[Lord Kangana]

However, the politics is spot on

[Bruce Rioja]

However, the politics is spot on

Almost trucial!

[Lord Kangana]

They are running out of oil at an alarming rate. Hence them investing $100 billion in tourism. I sh*t you not.

[thebish]

However, the politics is spot on

yes they is - spot on indeedy comrade!

[Bruce Rioja]

They are running out of oil at an alarming rate. Hence them investing $100 billion in tourism. I sh*t you not.

Indeed, of the Emirati states Dubai leads the way in this (non-oil) field. I was invited down to this UEA thing at the Excel Arena a couple of years ago where they had Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on feck knows how much to stand as the main speaker. I've never heard so much shit.

Basically pretty much anyone that exports to the Middle East from the UK had been invited.
Historically you had to have a licence to deal in each individual state (seven in all), each licence coming at great expense to the exporter. However, currently, and as you say - the oil's drying up and there's a panic on (I must point out though that Abu Dhabi isn't included here as apparently if you stand within its borders and poke a stick in the ground then still to this day - up from the ground pops a Clampetts-style bubblin' crude).

See, each state, or more particularly five of them, are now bidding against one and other in order to attract inward investment, each offering a full hand of Emirati licences if you invest in anyway in their patch.

Their sales pitches are laughable when you listen to them. They all start off by trying to get you to open a full-on production facility there at the off, and finish by trying to sell you an appartment in case employ a guy from their state as your agent.

Their business culture is so out of touch with ours though that they still think that by having various Sheikh Such and Suches at the gathering, this will have potential investors dropping to their knees whilst blindly signing contracts.

When you point out to them that your company already enjoys a thriving trade in the UAE, and has done for years via an agent in Egypt, their facial expressions are really best savoured first hand.

[Lord Kangana]

I was over there for the Grand Prix Bruce (working rather than pleasure) I find it a strange country. Basically, there's a small percentage of Arabs at the top, who effectively control everything like feudal land-lords, and then a strange social hierarchy below based on their perceptions of your race or culture. Naturally, being a westerner, they are pretty good with you. But I got talking to an Irish girl who lives out there, and she says they treat the Bangledeshi's et al like sh*t (I saw this myself) and cover up the evidence of industrial accidents, which are allegedly widespread and also illegal to report in the press. Indeed its not a democracy, as she kept on stressing. I got offered a job out there, but I really wasn't keen one bit. And if an Emirati hits you in your car, its your fault. Apparently.

However,The Grand Prix circuit, and Ferrari World next to it are a sight to behold. World class facilities, half empty. It was a crying shame. You get the feeling its just big expensive toys for the Sheikhs, no wonder Ecclestone did a u-turn on the British Grand Prix.

[Worthy4England]

they had Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on feck knows how much to stand as the main speaker. I've never heard so much shit.

Unfortunately, having been resonably prominent in the same Trade Union in the 1980's, I've heard so much shit from the same speaker on rather too many occasions. Mind, she was reasonably cute in the 80's.

[Hoboh]

LABOUR HAVE RUINED THE QUEENS LANDS, IT BELONGS TO THE QUEEN NOT YOU OR I , WE ARE JUST POOR AND WE WILL NEVER SEE SUPPOSIVE GOOD LIFE, THEY NEVER INTENDED YOU TO HAVE A GOOD LIFE, ONLY TO LIVE IN MISERY.

"THE RICH GET RICHER AND ONCE AGAIN THE RICH GET RICHER, AND ALWAYS LOOK DOWN THERE KNOSE AT US ALL THE TIME, THEY MAKE US FEEL REALLY BAD AND LOOK ON US LIKE WE ARE BAD PEOPLE.

NO ITS THE RICH THE BIGGEST LIERS AND MURDERERS IN ENGLAND, THEY CON YOU JUST TO GET YOUR MONEY THEN THEY RUN, AND THAT IS LEGAL WHAT A LOAD OF ROTTEN ****.

i HATE TOFFS THEY ARE THE WORST ONES, STILL BELIEVING THAT BEING POSH GIVES YOU A RIGHT TO LOOK DOWN ON US POOR AND ALWAYS PUTTING US DOWN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, I HATE THE LOT OF YOU.

HOW ABOUT YOU GO POOR AND WE GO RICH, OH NO BECAUSE WE COULD TRANSFORM OUR LIVES OVER NIGHT COULD,NT WE, OH KNOW WE CANT DO THAT. YEH BUT YOU **** WANT US TO FIGHT WARS DONT YOU, STILL OFFICERS ARE THE WEAKEST OF MEN EVEN TODAY.

ENGLAND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ACT LIKE A BIG BUNCH OF NANCY PANCY, DEBT RIDDEN IDIOTS AND THE WORLD KNOWS IT TOO, THEY CAN SEE YOU ARE EASILY LED ON ANY THING BEING OFFERED FOR SALE, SO WEAK".

And you think I have an opinion

[William the White]

And, so, hob0 - from where did these quotations come?

[KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab]

And, so, hob0 - from where did these quotations come?

Bunty.

[Prufrock]

BBC's 'Have your say' would be my guess. Awful place.

[Lord Kangana]

We are subjects not citizens, people. Those with brains enough to unerstand that will fear it(rightly) and fight it(rightly.)The feeble minded will not understand and will try to reinforce it.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Been on the champagne again, LK?

[Lord Kangana]

Yep. In vino veritas. Liberte egalite fraternite etc.

[Hoboh]

And, so, hob0 - from where did these quotations come?

MSN!!

[boltonboris]

And, so, hob0 - from where did these quotations come?

MSN!!

Many Special Numpties?

[InsaneApache]

We are subjects not citizens, people. Those with brains enough to unerstand that will fear it(rightly) and fight it(rightly.)The feeble minded will not understand and will try to reinforce it.

No we're citizens. Got changed in the early 80s IIRC.

What's all this about having a dry run for our brand new sparkling police state in Manchester if labour win the next election then?

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Feck me, I'm no Brown fan but what kind of a nation of bedwetters have we become when our Prime Minister's 'bullying' is part of our political discourse...