Time until fundies hose down Deputy Minister's car with machine-guns in 5...4...3...

I think he's trying to get killed. That would certainly shake the world economy up if Saudi Arabia falls into anarchy.

GAT_00: I think he's trying to get killed. That would certainly shake the world economy up if Saudi Arabia falls into anarchy.

More likely than many think. The royals are so popular that they have guards guarding their guards.

Let them join the 16th century first and see if they like it. The 20th century is a big step.

Why does this sound like it's not a very good thing?

GaryPDX: Why does this sound like it's not a very good thing?

I don't know, because it is. Successful moves to moderate the Saudi Sunni clergy would be a major step forward.

vossiewulf: GaryPDX: Why does this sound like it's not a very good thing?

I don't know, because it is. Successful moves to moderate the Saudi Sunni clergy would be a major step forward.

I can't comprehend such a thing becoming reality. Those wahabists(sp?) are a special kind of crazy.

vossiewulf: I don't know, because it is. Successful moves to moderate the Saudi Sunni clergy would be a major step forward.

I agree, but you've got to advance in steps. They need to get to the 19th century before they try for the 20th.

vossiewulf: GaryPDX: Why does this sound like it's not a very good thing?

I don't know, because it is. Successful moves to moderate the Saudi Sunni clergy would be a major step forward.

Yeah, good luck with that.

HowlingFrog: More likely than many think. The royals are so popular that they have guards guarding their guards.

Yo dawg, I heard you like guards.

Abdul-Aziz bin Humain will replace Sheik Ibrahim al-Ghaith as head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, which runs the religious police, according to the agency.

Too bad they didn't ditch the morality cops altogether.

King Abdullah has some really big balls doing what he is doing, and I fear he could be assassinated or see a coup. It would be tragic if either were to occur. After Fahd died I knew he would take Saudi Arabia in the right direction. He is Sunni, but he is not a Wahhabist. I thought he would start reform, but just didn't think he would do it this quickly. He is stepping on a lot of toes here, and making a lot of enemies. His duties are supposed to be restricted to foreign affairs and trade. The Al-Shaykh family is supposed to control all domestic issues. The military in Saudi Arabia is also divided among the ruling families. The Al-Shayks control the police and National Gaurd, the other branches are divided among factions of the Royal Family. It will be interesting to see how the Al-Shaykhs take King Abdullah taking over their jurisdiction with the religious appointments. This could get bloody real quick. If King Abdullah loses, you will see Saudi Arabia turn into bigger shiathole than it is, and a good candidate for the glass parking lot option. My prayers go with King Abdullah.

What could possibly go wrong?

Whoa, what? This is surprising.

Call the Church Police

Gotta stand up to 'em some time.

smooshie: HowlingFrog: More likely than many think. The royals are so popular that they have guards guarding their guards.

Yo dawg, I heard you like guards.

Abdul-Aziz bin Humain will replace Sheik Ibrahim al-Ghaith as head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, which runs the religious police, according to the agency.

Too bad they didn't ditch the morality cops altogether.

Yeah hopefully the vice cops will be more Humain now.

Anyone taking bets on when she's assassinated?

I was hoping for Civilization references.

/leaves disappointed.

Maybe Prince Alwaleed is having some influence at home after all. Of course if he had his way Saudi Arabia would be very very different. As it is, interesting and good change of things.

HowlingFrog: More likely than many think. The royals are so popular that they have guards guarding their guards.

Can't imagine why. It's not like some foreign power chose them at random to be the crowned monarchs of the country.

....oh, wait a minute....

women have suffraged for far too long.

Wow that is amazing. Hope they can stay alive long enough to get rid of the "moral" police all together.

Dwight_Yeast: It's not like some foreign power chose them at random to be the crowned monarchs of the country.

Not up on your Saudi history are you?

HowlingFrog is not to leave the room, even if you come and get him.

/*hic*

How could they have Universal Suffrage? Have they researched democracy yet?

muck4doo: King Abdullah has some really big balls doing what he is doing, and I fear he could be assassinated or see a coup. It would be tragic if either were to occur. After Fahd died I knew he would take Saudi Arabia in the right direction. He is Sunni, but he is not a Wahhabist. I thought he would start reform, but just didn't think he would do it this quickly. He is stepping on a lot of toes here, and making a lot of enemies. His duties are supposed to be restricted to foreign affairs and trade. The Al-Shaykh family is supposed to control all domestic issues. The military in Saudi Arabia is also divided among the ruling families. The Al-Shayks control the police and National Gaurd, the other branches are divided among factions of the Royal Family. It will be interesting to see how the Al-Shaykhs take King Abdullah taking over their jurisdiction with the religious appointments. This could get bloody real quick. If King Abdullah loses, you will see Saudi Arabia turn into bigger shiathole than it is, and a good candidate for the glass parking lot option. My prayers go with King Abdullah.

I find myself in a rare position. I am mostly in agreement, Muck.
Well said.

wow.

/♫Well the Libtard and the neo-Con can be frien's, ^{can be frien's.}♪

Maybe you guys haven't witnessed how women treat one another.

I think the Saudis do not get the credit they deserve. 70 years ago, they were tribal nomads. They have come a long way in that time.

How Does That Taste: How could they have Universal Suffrage? Have they researched democracy yet?

this! so this! i love civ.

Yeah, except for the whole glass parking lot thing, I find myself pretty much agreeing with muck4doo as well. Imagine that... ;)

That said, the new fatwa generator Humain is no "libtard reformer". He just isn't as batshiat crazy as the knuckle-dragger he replaced. BTW, nice pun on his name, MadSkillz. ::thumbsup::

Appointing al-Fayez as deputy minister for girls' education was a cautious first move, and though more symbolic than substantial, breaks the mold in a religiously and socially acceptable manner. Presuming no major backlash, and frankly I doubt there will be any, appointing a female doctor in a year or two as deputy minister for women's health and family preventive medicine might be a logical follow-on. We'll see.

As pointed out, the king couldn't simply wave his hand and declare it so. There are tremendous pressures within SA for change, and I agree with TFA that a consensus at the top had to have developed that the time was right to start a slow liberalization. SA is somewhat isolated even within Islam for its extremism, and there are competitors to it for Islamic leadership.

I picked the reference to the 20th Century because of the parallels between SA and the US a century ago. Clearly we weren't SA, but we did have naked religious, racial and sexual bigotry. Women couldn't vote or drive a car, much less play direct political roles. Maybe SA's progress will be rapid and smooth. One may hope.

/subby...obviously

Doing this at the same time as a *major* cut in oil revenues? Could he be looking for a fight with the Wahabbi (like riots or an assassination plot), so he can lay the serious smack down on them while he's still powerful enough to do it?

"Oh, I think it's time to embrace the exciting challenges presented to us by the Century of the Fruitbat," said the Bursar.
"We... that's the one we're just about to leave, sir."
"Then it's high time we embraced them, don't you think?" &mdash from Terry Pratchett's novel, "The Truth"

Dwight_Yeast: HowlingFrog: More likely than many think. The royals are so popular that they have guards guarding their guards.

Can't imagine why. It's not like some foreign power chose them at random to be the crowned monarchs of the country.

....oh, wait a minute....

You get the "Dumbass Award" for the thread.

Pootums: muck4doo: King Abdullah has some really big balls doing what he is doing, and I fear he could be assassinated or see a coup. It would be tragic if either were to occur. After Fahd died I knew he would take Saudi Arabia in the right direction. He is Sunni, but he is not a Wahhabist. I thought he would start reform, but just didn't think he would do it this quickly. He is stepping on a lot of toes here, and making a lot of enemies. His duties are supposed to be restricted to foreign affairs and trade. The Al-Shaykh family is supposed to control all domestic issues. The military in Saudi Arabia is also divided among the ruling families. The Al-Shayks control the police and National Gaurd, the other branches are divided among factions of the Royal Family. It will be interesting to see how the Al-Shaykhs take King Abdullah taking over their jurisdiction with the religious appointments. This could get bloody real quick. If King Abdullah loses, you will see Saudi Arabia turn into bigger shiathole than it is, and a good candidate for the glass parking lot option. My prayers go with King Abdullah.

I find myself in a rare position. I am mostly in agreement, Muck.
Well said.

wow.

/♫Well the Libtard and the neo-Con can be frien's, can be frien's.♪

I don't want Saudi Arabia to turn into a glass parking lot. I'm just saying if the Wahhabis (Al-Shaykhs) ever take control of the country, they would take them down the road that could lead to that possibility. I don't want to see that happen.

StoneColdAtheist: Yeah, except for the whole glass parking lot thing, I find myself pretty much agreeing with muck4doo as well. Imagine that... ;)

That said, the new fatwa generator Humain is no "libtard reformer". He just isn't as batshiat crazy as the knuckle-dragger he replaced. BTW, nice pun on his name, MadSkillz. ::thumbsup::

Appointing al-Fayez as deputy minister for girls' education was a cautious first move, and though more symbolic than substantial, breaks the mold in a religiously and socially acceptable manner. Presuming no major backlash, and frankly I doubt there will be any, appointing a female doctor in a year or two as deputy minister for women's health and family preventive medicine might be a logical follow-on. We'll see.

As pointed out, the king couldn't simply wave his hand and declare it so. There are tremendous pressures within SA for change, and I agree with TFA that a consensus at the top had to have developed that the time was right to start a slow liberalization. SA is somewhat isolated even within Islam for its extremism, and there are competitors to it for Islamic leadership.

I picked the reference to the 20th Century because of the parallels between SA and the US a century ago. Clearly we weren't SA, but we did have naked religious, racial and sexual bigotry. Women couldn't vote or drive a car, much less play direct political roles. Maybe SA's progress will be rapid and smooth. One may hope.

/subby...obviously

Nicely put.

In light of the rare moment where Saudi Arabia shows it *might* want to be civilized, I'll keep my offensive comments to a minimum and just say +1, subby.

Good for Saudi Arabia, maybe this step towards moderation will lead the Arabized Iranians to also ease up on the jihad meant to prove they are the true guardians of Mecca.

GaryPDX: . Those wahabists(sp?)fundies of any religion are a special kind of crazy.

fixed that for ya

Joining the early 20th century? Does that mean we get Arab flappers? Hot!

WhyteRaven74: Dwight_Yeast: It's not like some foreign power chose them at random to be the crowned monarchs of the country.

Not up on your Saudi history are you?

Not aware of what sarcasm is, are you?

Dwight_Yeast: WhyteRaven74: Dwight_Yeast: It's not like some foreign power chose them at random to be the crowned monarchs of the country.

Not up on your Saudi history are you?

Not aware of what sarcasm is, are you?

You can try to play it off all you want, truth is, you're a dumbass.

I love it when the people argue against the Iraq war by complaining that we didn't go invade Saudi Arabia, and use the 9/11 hijackers as their rationale. Of course, completely ignoring the reality of the situation.

The reality is, that the Saudi Arabia monarchy isn't our enemy. Our enemy in Saudi Arabia are the religious leaders and a good sized portion of the people themselves. Unless you're willing to wipe them all out we're not going to do any good by invading Saudi Arabia.

GAT_00: I think he's trying to get killed. That would certainly shake the world economy up if Saudi Arabia falls into anarchy.

That would sure suck. Good thing we don't have to depend on them for anything that the absence of might upset our economy.