So I take it then, that you are in agreement with "WWIII" being around the corner and likewise, microchips about to be implanted in each of us?

Roger that.

There is enough legitimate stupidity in the ME without veering off into the lunatic lane.

wellll...
 

Nolimitholdem,

you can use the tin foil......

Plenty of sand out here for ostriches' heads. To be doubly sure nolimitholdem, cup your ears with both hands and loudly say NANANANA, ad infinitum. That way you can stay comfortably numb.

Reread my post and tell me again where I ever mentioned microchips and WWIII. I didn't.

I will say it again....FOLLOW THE EFFEN MONEY!!!

It is still worth flying in the ME if you're single. It would be foolish to ship the family to the ME at this time. Some of the guys are already making plans to transfer their families out of the ME. Makes good sense in the long term, since instablity can occur in a matter of hours and days and you just can't plan everything in life on a wing and a prayer.

We survived the IRA so we'll take our chances here for a while!

ME
 

Interesting discussion, refreshing thoughts from sittingidly and bye Dubai. But you are right guys. And yes, the whole World will change soon, the banksters have defrauded us and the results are clear. The US is bankrupt and it won't take long before unrest starts there, but beware the masses there are armed and dangerous.
Libya: The people are not as stupid as Gadaffi and his clan thinks, it is game over for him in a couple of days. Now the globalists start the old lies of WMD (remember the lies in Iraq) in order to take over Libyan oil, but the Libyan people will not stand for this, no intervention.
The US is using air power since years in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen etc to kill Al Qeada, killing Hundreds of civilians, collateral damage as they say, but no better than Gaddaffi.
The time of change has come for the Arab nations, monarchies are on the way out, it is only a matter of time. Why would king Saud invest suddendly 36 Billion $, it will not stop the change.
Libya, Yemen, next Bahrain, Algeria, Morocco and finally Saudi Arabia, not a matter of if but rather when.
I hope you guys did invest wisely, Gold, Silver, real estate (hopefully not in the Middle east) to prepare for the collapse to come.
But dream on nowitholdem with your stupid hats, guess you will learn a lesson soon, just like that clown Monty77 that claims nobody was killed by the military in Bahrain. Happy Shopping :E

This has to be one of the stranger and more incoherent threads on the ME forum, with topics careening wildly from the current civil and political unrest, to the predictable bashing of the banking establishment, to getting microchipped, apocalyptic mutterings of the next world war, IRA terrorists, the Irish potato famine, and a rant about the diction of Brits...? Did I miss anything?

Yet I am accused of "putting my head in the sand" for posting an image suggesting there are a few loonies about?!

hahahahahah!

Priceless.

Perhaps back nearer the topic, an insightful read is Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein. In it she describes how during periods of economic shock, social unrest and civil war, the west mobilises to manipulate the situations under the name of 'democracy' only then to 'reconstruct' systems and governments with economic advisers bringing with them binding IMF loans and various other strings that become ropes. It happened in places such as South America, Poland to name just a few. Of course non of the changes were altruistic but benefitted the bankers and the US.

What's happening now will see similar attempts of manipulation the unrest in the ME but IMO will only lead to the situation we see in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Initially this quote came to mind regarding just the ME unrest, but it is also pertinent to western governments and economic unrest:

"You see these dictators on their pedestals, surrounded by the bayonets of their soldiers and the truncheons of their police. Yet in their hearts there is unspoken - unspeakable! - fear. They are afraid of words and thoughts! Words spoken abroad, thoughts stirring at home, all the more powerful because they are forbidden. These terrify them. A little mouse - a little tiny mouse! -of thought appears in the room, and even the mightiest potentates are thrown into panic.

Winston Churchill

I appreciate the hangar talk political discussion. But, please contribute your experiences and updates about the ME unrest.:ugh:

Wow! You make a semi-throwaway comment and someone goes off on a mega-rant.

I wasn't making any comment upon the validity of anyone's "cause", just saying that as someone who served in the military during part of the IRA's campaign (and got on with life, despite being a target) I can't see any reason to allow the current unrest to destabilise me and my life too much. Even if the unrest spreads to the UAE (highly unlikely in my opinion) I would not expect expats to become "targets" although I have enough funds available to get out reasonably quickly if needs be.

With regard to the rest of sittingidly's diatribe, I see that it has now been removed so I shall refrain from comment. However, his near namesake Sitting Bull (speaking from the spirit world) might have a thing or two to say about American "imperialism" and the use of the word "genocide"! :)

Unrest
 

I think it is just the beginning of major unrest worldwide, people are tired of the way things are going with these kings and tyrants in this part of the World. This is the main reason why everything is so backwards here and not because of Islam.
I don't think there is a problem in the UAE or Qatar, however in Bahrain I think we will see soon a lot of trouble. I wonder if someone from Gulf Air can give us some insight.

The Pearl 'square', which is actually a roundabout was re-occupied by protestors when the Military pulled out, and still is. There have been a few other demonstrations here and there, including counter demonstrations this week. I suspect tomorrow will throw up a couple more being Friday etc.

On the outside it appears to be a bit of a stalemate at the moment. Getting to work is not a problem albeit by an alternate route to avoid the excitement down at the Pearl. Apart from that, life at the moment is normal for most people including the expats. Let's hope it stays that way.

Maybe, maybe not, hard to tell really, some think that Iran is the fly in the ointment....who knows for sure.

Don't see how it can.

I sense a growing amount of frustration that the hitherto peaceful marches, roundabout occupancy etc. doesn't seem to be yielding the desired results (as many and varied as they are). The marches are being increasingly used to disrupt traffic, ranging further afield. Extrapolate that a bit, and it will get interesting.

On the other side, the economy is in free fall. Friends in retail report sales running at 40% of usual- mall traffic well down. Even filipino shop girls are being preventing from returning to Bahrain after leave. Hotels are nervously hoping that the GP can be salvaged later in the year- or else. One only has to see how the roads are no longer traffic logged (especially on the Saudi weekend) to imagine what must be happening at cash registers. All this is yet to impact us wage slaves, but there are ramifications. I don't know how long those that are the keepers of the Golden Rules will talk before they act; all this on a local level, without any reference to geo-political stuff.

Interesting times.

Edited to add: I just came across this.....
My Mushaima said on Wednesday that protesters have “the right to appeal for help from Iran” if Saudi military units interfere in the struggle. Tanks were seen crossing the 17-mile causeway from Saudi Arabia to Bahrain on Tuesday.

“These were supposed to be Bahrain’s tanks returning from Kuwait: that is not a credible story,” said Firas Abi Ali, a Gulf expert at the risk group Exclusive Analysis.
from here Saudi Arabia contagion triggers Gulf rout - Telegraph

I was always of the opinion there would be a mass exodus from the region at some stage. Lets face it, it is an unstable part of the world. It may have nice shops (Starbucks), buildings etc. but that don't make it anymore stable IMHO. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that people power in that region may spark it all off. All things come to an end sooner or later.

Ferris
 

How do you think that would play out?

Interesting times for sure, although I'm not sure I want a front row seat for that.

Cheers

This Mushaima character is dangerous, he seems to be willing to provoke
conflict & plunge this island into a civil war inorder to get some power &
money. Even the Al waqef are wary of him.
I honestly believe that one cannot put any trust what-so-ever in any religious
leaders since they all have personal agendas & are more power hungry than even Saddam
or Gadaffi.
Let's just hope sense & logic prevail & the talking starts.

Che
 

I don't think Iran has the military capability to project any power this way. It doesn't matter what people here ask for. The best they can hope for is being armed from across the moat in order to fight their own battles. That can only take the form of small arms and explosives (and a protracted guerrilla-style campaign is not good for expats).

Rumour has it that the protesters have been given til Sunday to exit the pearl. We will see what transpires.

What Next ?
Saudi Arabia Bans All Protests | News | English

This is one of the many reasons I abhor politicians.

You have that :mad: Blair and his cronies, slobbering of Gadaffi not long ago, while he knew full well that he ordered the bombing of the Pan Am aircraft.

Now we don't hear one politician backing Gadaffi.

Even if only a small protest goes off in KSA next week, expect to see a couple of percentage points rapidly tacked on to the price of a barrel of oil. Libya isn't even a major player in the oil world and look what that did.