Saudi Arabia has kicked out the Canadian Ambassador to the Kingdom. Recalled their ambassador in Ottawa. And has frozen trade with Canada. Will that, I wonder, put an end to the $15-Billion deal with General Dynamics to buy 900 LAV 700s, an export model of the
LAV 6.0 fighting vehicle. But maybe not, the crown prince needs them to eliminate more Yemeni women and children.
All because Canada scolded the Saudis for arresting more ladies who want to drive.
But worse was the statement
"Any further step from the Canadian side in that direction will be
considered as acknowledgment of our right to interfere in the Canadian
domestic affairs,..."
And worst of all was this widely distributed twitter image:
The Sauds are also withdrawing all of their students from our universities. I guess that means we are going to be able to bad mouth the Sauds about Yemen. About time too.
ReplyDeleteI figure that MbS thinks that kicking Canada serves as an easy "warning" to other countries without paying any price. Perhaps he is right.
Ael -
ReplyDeleteYou should badmouth them even more about Yemen if this AP report has even the slightest bit of truth. The Saudis and Emiratis in Yemen are reportedly working with al-Quaeda against the Houthi. Money quote: "Coalition-backed militias actively recruit al-Qaida militants, or those who were recently members, because they’re considered exceptional fighters, the AP found."
Here is the link:
https://apnews.com/f38788a561d74ca78c77cb43612d50da
Stay classy KSA...
ReplyDeleteHaving had a chance to think about it, I think that Canada's best next move in this game is to re-open our embassy in Tehran. We have been talking about doing this for a while now, but have been dragging our feet (perhaps because of opposition from KSA and other gulf countries).
ReplyDeleteA quick little snuggle with Iran is sure to drive MbS crazy.
Would Iran let you back in after Affleck and Hollywood blew your cover?
DeleteSnuggle with Iran and MbS is liable to target your school busses as legitimate terrorist targets.
Deletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-45128367
I've always held that Israel is the most geopolitically worthless "ally" the U.S. could find, but the KSA is sure doing its best to work its way up there. MbS seems to have decided that Trump isn't a cautionary tale but a role model, and his foreign and domestic policies are a complete shitshow (from a "liberal democracy" perspective - if you're a racist authoritarian they might be just fine, hence the continued tongue-bath from the Trumpkins for Riyadh...)
ReplyDeleteThe continued association between the Western democracies and the KSA is getting increasingly ridiculous as the current Riyadh regime seems determined to become the Fascist Italy of the 21st Century, stirring shit up just because they seem to have a need to flex their...I'll be polite and say "muscles".
Interesting picture...also known as "Veiled threat."
ReplyDeleteKSA should know that war's have started for less...and the KSA is in no position to defend itself against an aggrieved Western Nation who doesn't take kindly to threats.
But...that would be then, and this is now...so who knows.
Personally, I would like to see KSA kicked to the curb...bunch of a freeloading trouble makers, "no, no, we are your friend...knife? What knife...oh this knife this is for cutting the throats of our fruit, and sometimes camels when they don't obey us."
sheerahkahn