Various & sundry

[The Great Quail]

Barbara said:

>Is any of this enough for you? I'm sorry I can't site some reputable news
>source for you, but I still think Saudi Arabia is the second most repressive
>Muslim society on earth, next only to the Taliban.

Actually, thank you, your report was very informative, and it 
certainly was enough for me. You have had an interesting life. It 
must be hard also being Doug.

>See, in a way, I did know a little bit about the countries before I spoke.

Just as a point, those were your words, not mine.

>I'm sure you're right about Saudi Arabia repressing their fundamentalists
>groups, though. I might have heard something like that recently too.  I
>can't help but wonder though, do they do it to secure their own internal
>Power, or to appease their red, white and blue Master?

Well, again I have issue with your overblown rhetoric; but I don't 
see why both concerns can't be served at the same time. Though given 
the choice between the corrupt Saudi monarchy that tries to appease 
the US and a Taliban-like regime that wants jihad on the West, 
well....? As I've said before, part of the problem here is there's 
not a lot of attractive alternatives for us to support, given our 
desires to remain interested in the region.

--Quail