Why is that? In their own way they are every bit as brutal as ISIS yet we continue to do business with them. The latest story is about a blogger. A blogger. Not unlike myself.
He is a human rights activist. That's a dangerous undertaking in Saudi. When you upset the powers that be it could cost you your life as it may well this mans. He has been sentenced to 15 years and 50 lashes once a week for 20 weeks. One must have an extremely strong constitution to withstand such brutality.
What did he do? He dared to critique the way Saudi clerics interpret Islam. He was arrested in 2012 and was first sentenced to seven years and 600 lashes. He appealed and was rewarded with an even harsher sentence. What kind of justice is this? All for wanting to create a dialogue on how to modernize Saudi Islam. Not so very different from how multitudes of bloggers in this country have a dialogue on how to improve our government. Fortunately we can do so with no worse than sneers from those who don't agree.
At one time we maintained these mid-east relationships because of our dependency on their oil. Technology has made it no longer necessary if our government will see the light and act accordingly.
It seems an ideal time to reassess these relationships. They are brutal, hateful people. Some don't bother to hide the fact. Others couch it as best they can for obvious reasons. In this case they too are afraid of ISIS and need the west's help in fighting them. Let's face it, they don't want their form of brutality taken over by others - especially since it's more finite than their own and might even touch them in their inner sanctums.
How we can turn our backs on western allies who gathered together to protest Islamic terrorism on one hand and cater to those who support it, even practice it, on the other escapes me. And not just Saudi. There are many other countries who have equally repugnant practices.
It's time. Congress holds the power of the purse. Here's one more item where the purse strings should be pulled closed, never again to be opened. The administration wants more revenue? Here is a source for a pile of it.
