Captain Sand Dune / WhatsaLizad
You're right about me not working for them but that was presumably your choice and you were rewarded for it. Certainly, working with or for them could be maddening in the extreme for numerous reasons but that's a global problem - it's not only thobe wearers that can be irritating little shi*ts and all the other things they are accused of.
I came across the attitude of 'we let them do what we like in our country but they don't in theirs ergo we're better than them' more times than I heard the call to prayer and I was always completely amazed by the arrogance of the spouter!! Sure it's annoying but really so bl**dy what - you may do all sorts of things in your own house that you wouldn't in a friend's - do you dislike them for it, do you condemn them for it, are you better than them because of your differeing attitudes?? I'm not completely holier than thou, the place and the people drove me nuts on occasions but so does UK!! And, there are a few things in that country that I WISH we did in the more 'civilised' world eg chopping the hands off thieving little gits!
As for thinking 12 months ago this was imminent - I think many expats that we knew when we were there are surprised it has actually taken this long for it to spiral so viciously. Before 9/11 but particularly afterwards my family and I were aware that, essentially, a Western presence was unwanted - I don't know one Saudi that would condone what has been done but those same Saudis would much prefer a country free from Western control. (Don't even start the 'if we weren't there they'd fall to bits' argument!)
And, FYI, we left, sadly, in December 2001 as our contract was not renewed - a victim of Saudization!!!!!! At least you're in Oz now Capt SD - some aren't quite so lucky!
CJ