UAE Sheikh Cleared in Video Torture

Middle EastJanuary 2010 • Views: 2,873

In April of last year I posted clips from a videotape smuggled out of the United Arab Emirates, showing a member of the royal family, Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, brutally torturing a man with whips, electric cattle prods and wooden planks with protruding nails, then driving over him in the Sheikh’s Mercedes SUV. The victim was reportedly an Afghan grain merchant who lost a shipment belonging to Sheikh Issa, a mistake that cost the merchant an extended stay in the hospital.

Here’s that video (warning: graphic violence but not gore):

FLV Video

There’s an update today from the UAE, as the Sheikh is cleared of all charges in the “investigation.” Sheikh Issa explained that he was, uh, drugged by his accomplices, who then recorded the festivities so they could, uh, blackmail him. The blackmailers are now out of the country but they’ve been, uh, convicted in absentia.

The Sheikh says he was completely unaware of his actions while savagely beating someone with a cattle prod, shooting at him, and running him over with a car. Must have been some really good drugs.

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109 comments

caution Mon, Jan 11, 2010 10:53:38am

Our pals.....

fire at night Mon, Jan 11, 2010 10:53:55am

Despicable.

lawhawk Mon, Jan 11, 2010 10:54:02am

Well, that settles it.

Kragar Mon, Jan 11, 2010 10:54:36am

Havent we all gotten drugged and savagely beaten and tortured someone at some point in our lives? Whats the big deal?

///

wrenchwench Mon, Jan 11, 2010 10:55:05am

One requirement for a country to fit the definition of "civilized" is a judicial system that is not a farce.

MandyManners Mon, Jan 11, 2010 10:55:57am

I want to know what kind of medicine the sheikh was taking. Is he still on it?

darthstar Mon, Jan 11, 2010 10:55:57am

Sheikh Yerbouti

Youtube Video

Baier Mon, Jan 11, 2010 10:57:13am

Shouldn't he be executed for doing drugs?

Kragar Mon, Jan 11, 2010 10:57:21am

Once again, the old adage proves true. Its good to be the ~~King~~ Sheikh.

Baier Mon, Jan 11, 2010 10:58:19am

re: #4 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Havent we all gotten drugged and savagely beaten and tortured someone at some point in our lives? Whats the big deal?

///

Right? It's like no one has ever been to a Grateful Dead concert.

Kragar Mon, Jan 11, 2010 10:58:54am

re: #8 Baier

Shouldn't he be executed for doing drugs?

No. You see the evil accomplises drugged him against his will, so he can't be held accountable.

Now of course, if this was a woman who had been drugged and raped, they could stone her to death for having sex out of wedlock.

MandyManners Mon, Jan 11, 2010 10:59:17am

re: #6 MandyManners

I want to know what kind of medicine the sheikh was taking. Is he still on it?

The impression I got from the story I posted this morning was that the sheikh had taken prescribed medication, not that he had been drugged.

abolitionist Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:00:00am

So the guy with the whips, electric cattle prods, wooden planks with protruding nails and the SUV was the real victim here.

/Allah must've wanted him to have those drugs.

Ericus58 Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:01:19am

Reminds me of Saddam's Iraq.....

CommonCents Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:01:48am

The decision was reached by a crack team of Pakistani investigators, the six men cannot be reached for comment.

Or perhaps it was the 14 top-notch Afghanis that made the determination right before this.

72 virgins named Darwin-ia are on their way fellas.

MandyManners Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:02:48am

re: #12 MandyManners

The impression I got from the story I posted this morning was that the sheikh had taken prescribed medication, not that he had been drugged.

Here is the link from this morning. I cannot link to the article which I linked to earlier. Which I click, it directs me to *this* thread.

[Link: littlegreenfootballs.com...]

jamesfirecat Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:04:01am

Horrible, I wish I could be surprised, but what do you end up expecting when the group in power decides to name the country after themselves, even the North Korea's haven't changed their name to "Kim-Land" yet....

captdiggs Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:05:48am

In other arab juris prudence news:

"Woman raped in Dubai charged for having illegal sex"
[Link: www.timesonline.co.uk...]

jamesfirecat Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:08:02am

re: #18 captdiggs

In other arab juris prudence news:

"Woman raped in Dubai charged for having illegal sex"
[Link: www.timesonline.co.uk...]

Oh fuck off! That's like going up onto the sidewalk to run someone with your car, and then suing them for how they messed up your bumper!

RogueOne Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:08:22am

re: #18 captdiggs

In other arab juris prudence news:

"Woman raped in Dubai charged for having illegal sex"
[Link: www.timesonline.co.uk...]

I don't understand why people willingly go there, even for a visit. Last year they arrested a guy getting off a plane from London for having a speck of marijuana on the sole of his shoe. They charged him with trafficking.

MandyManners Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:08:40am

re: #18 captdiggs

In other arab juris prudence news:

"Woman raped in Dubai charged for having illegal sex"
[Link: www.timesonline.co.uk...]

The woman has been advised to drop the rape allegation, admit that she was drunk and marry her fiancé immediately if she wants to go home. She told The Sun: “I always dreamed of a big family wedding in Britain, but now I just want to get married so I can get out of here.”

*pop*

reine.de.tout Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:08:45am

re: #12 MandyManners

The impression I got from the story I posted this morning was that the sheikh had taken prescribed medication, not that he had been drugged.

Hard to keep the facts straight, I guess, when the facts aren't, really, um, facts.

MandyManners Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:10:22am

re: #22 reine.de.tout

Hard to keep the facts straight, I guess, when the facts aren't, really, um, facts.

Maybe they make the shit up as they go along.

John Neverbend Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:11:54am

re: #13 abolitionist

So the guy with the whips, electric cattle prods, wooden planks with protruding nails and the SUV was the real victim here.

/Allah must've wanted him to have those drugs.

I'm surprised that he didn't attribute it to demonic possession.

Gus Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:12:06am

Sheikh Issa al-Nahyan, daddy's boy rich kid ~~stoner~~ druggie gets cleared. I bet he posts drifting videos over at Liveleak.

Firstinla Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:12:18am

re: #15 CommonCents

"virgins" was a misprint...what the text actually says is that these martyrs will get 72 VERSIONS...

Kragar Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:12:59am

re: #20 RogueOne

I don't understand why people willingly go there, even for a visit. Last year they arrested a guy getting off a plane from London for having a speck of marijuana on the sole of his shoe. They charged him with trafficking.

There is nothing you could offer me on this earth that would get me to want to travel to one of those barbaric shitholes.

Stanghazi Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:16:54am

re: #27 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

There is nothing you could offer me on this earth that would get me to want to travel to one of those barbaric shitholes.

I've lost touch with a former client who's in Dubai. Smart, female architect....hmmmm maybe I should check up on her.

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:17:15am

re: #8 Baier

Shouldn't he be executed for doing drugs?

They were prescribed.

_RememberTonyC Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:17:22am

and these are the so called MODERATE arabs ...

spit

RogueOne Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:17:31am

re: #20 RogueOne

Last year they arrested a guy getting off a plane from London for having a speck of marijuana on the sole of his shoe. They charged him with trafficking.

Actually, they convicted him 9/08:

[Link: www.thisislondon.co.uk...]

Briton jailed for four years in Dubai after customs find cannabis weighing less than a grain of sugar under his shoe
Keith Brown, a council youth development officer, was travelling through the United Arab Emirates on his way back to England when he was stopped as he walked through Dubai's main airport.

A search by customs officials uncovered a speck of cannabis weighing just 0.003g - so small it would be invisible to the naked eye and weighing less than a grain of sugar - on the tread of one of his shoes.

John Neverbend Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:17:42am

re: #27 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

There is nothing you could offer me on this earth that would get me to want to travel to one of those barbaric shitholes.

A return flight on an A-380 in first class with a suite and $10 million in cash would persuade me.

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:18:21am

re: #12 MandyManners

The impression I got from the story I posted this morning was that the sheikh had taken prescribed medication, not that he had been drugged.

Should I go on taking my Paxil, or is this just gonna lead to me torturing someone?

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:19:13am

re: #14 Ericus58

Reminds me of Saddam's Iraq...

Except that the media and the government told me in great detail how we needed to topple Saddam because of such things.

I'm waaaaaiting.....

Randall Gross Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:19:46am

This is what's appropriately labeled "Tyranny" which makes me laugh in frustration at all of those teapartiers, Alex Jones and Glen Beck fans, and Paulbots who try to say we are headed towards tyranny here AND NOW.

Can you even for a second imagine that this guy would be acquitted here in the US? Or for that matter most places in the world?

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:21:00am

re: #21 MandyManners

The woman has been advised to drop the rape allegation, admit that she was drunk and marry her fiancé immediately if she wants to go home. She told The Sun: “I always dreamed of a big family wedding in Britain, but now I just want to get married so I can get out of here.”

*pop*

Get married, get home, and have a nice big wedding party for the whole family.

Dear God.

MandyManners Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:21:09am

re: #33 SanFranciscoZionist

Should I go on taking my Paxil, or is this just gonna lead to me torturing someone?

Just don't mix it with hashish.

John Neverbend Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:21:17am

re: #12 MandyManners

The impression I got from the story I posted this morning was that the sheikh had taken prescribed medication, not that he had been drugged.

I can believe this. Recently, I had to take a short course of antibiotics. The pills came with about 10 pages of closely typed analysis as to the various side effects that might occur, including problems with my achilles tendon, death and an irresistible urge to drive an SUV round the upper east side of New York and run over as many people as possible, before impaling them on a red hot poker.

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:22:26am

re: #30 _RememberTonyC

and these are the so called MODERATE arabs ...

spit

No, they're not. They're just the Arabs we happen to be pretending are our buddies.

Vicious Babushka Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:22:51am

re: #4 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Havent we all gotten drugged and savagely beaten and tortured someone at some point in our lives? Whats the big deal?

///

He must have taken ambien. That can make you do some crazy shit and not remember a thing about it.

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:23:27am

re: #37 MandyManners

Just don't mix it with hashish.

It does say that on the label. Is this why?

CommonCents Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:24:17am

re: #26 Firstinla

I was just doing a little nosing around in your previous comments. You said you were watching your nephew play in the Rose Bowl. I hope for the winning team.

MandyManners Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:24:30am

re: #36 SanFranciscoZionist

Get married, get home, and have a nice big wedding party for the whole family.

Dear God.

They also busted her for being drunk.

MandyManners Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:25:38am

re: #38 John Neverbend

I can believe this. Recently, I had to take a short course of antibiotics. The pills came with about 10 pages of closely typed analysis as to the various side effects that might occur, including problems with my achilles tendon, death and an irresistible urge to drive an SUV round the upper east side of New York and run over as many people as possible, before impaling them on a red hot poker.

I think I'd rather get over the infection the old-fashioned way.

MandyManners Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:26:18am

re: #41 SanFranciscoZionist

It does say that on the label. Is this why?

Yep.

RogueOne Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:28:35am

re: #43 MandyManners

They also busted her for being drunk.

Which is weird since she went to the PD the next day and liquor is legal. My sister married a saud and has lived in Riyadh for 25 years now. They go to UAE quite often.

MandyManners Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:31:29am

re: #46 RogueOne

Which is weird since she went to the PD the next day and liquor is legal. My sister married a saud and has lived in Riyadh for 25 years now. They go to UAE quite often.

To clarify, the charge was being drunk outside licensed premises.

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:31:59am

re: #46 RogueOne

Which is weird since she went to the PD the next day and liquor is legal. My sister married a saud and has lived in Riyadh for 25 years now. They go to UAE quite often.

This is a hell of a way to attract tourists.

RogueOne Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:33:43am

re: #48 SanFranciscoZionist

This is a hell of a way to attract tourists.

Everything is relative. When you're used to people being imprisoned (at best) or beheaded for drug/alcohol crimes, Dubai seems like a gleaming city on the hill I guess.

Summer Seale Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:35:18am

Imagine my incredible relief when I read this story and found out that the poor, framed, prince was found not guilty!

Those dastardly men who drugged him should be caught and punished. Imagine, drugging an innocent prince to force him to do all those terrible things.

Well, that is just such a load off of my mind. I'm certain that justice has prevailed. What a wonderful model their society is for our own. Look at how they took their time investigating this and getting to the actual bottom of this evil setup!

Phew! I tell you, it must have taken painstaking forensic work to really find out what actually happened here.

Remember: We have always been at war with Eastasia.

WaveriderCA Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:36:52am

re: #14 Ericus58

Reminds me of Saddam's Iraq...

If you think the two situations are comparable (UAE and Saddam Iraq) .... I think your perspective needs a realignment. Last time I checked the UAE hasn't been mass murdering people....

CommonCents Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:39:45am

re: #35 Thanos

This is what's appropriately labeled "Tyranny" which makes me laugh in frustration at all of those teapartiers, Alex Jones and Glen Beck fans, and Paulbots who try to say we are headed towards tyranny here AND NOW.

Can you even for a second imagine that this guy would be acquitted here in the US? Or for that matter most places in the world?

You want tyranny, try Venezuela.

Chavez devalues Bolivar....selectively
Chavez threatens to oust Toyota for not making inexpensive 4x4's

Obdicut Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:40:17am

That's our allies for ya!

reine.de.tout Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:41:17am

re: #38 John Neverbend

I can believe this. Recently, I had to take a short course of antibiotics. The pills came with about 10 pages of closely typed analysis as to the various side effects that might occur, including problems with my achilles tendon, death and an irresistible urge to drive an SUV round the upper east side of New York and run over as many people as possible, before impaling them on a red hot poker.

If you read those inserts, they'll scare you half to death. I've been prescribed medicines that I've picked up from the pharmacy, read the insert, then called the doctor to say, are you sure I should take this?

CommonCents Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:41:29am

Although this is not a humorous matter, it reminds me of a line in a movie (of which I cannot recall) where the mobster says... "Eh, he fell on a knife. Fourteen times."

Ben Hur Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:44:31am

re: #37 MandyManners

Just don't mix it with hashish.

Go piss up a bong.

;)

Ben Hur Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:45:05am

re: #44 MandyManners

I think I'd rather get over the infection the old-fashioned way.

Yogurt?

jordash1212 Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:45:34am

Petropower.

darthstar Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:47:08am

re: #44 MandyManners

I think I'd rather get over the infection the old-fashioned way.

Mmm...there's nothing like a good old fashioned bleeding to remove the demons from the body.

RogueOne Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:48:23am

re: #53 Obdicut

That's our allies for ya!

Not to pick on you but I keep seeing that statement. What exactly are we supposed to do about countries that have laws like these? If we stopped dealing with everyone that had laws we didn't like, it would get lonely pretty quickly.

What, me worry? Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:50:30am

re: #18 captdiggs

In other arab juris prudence news:

"Woman raped in Dubai charged for having illegal sex"
[Link: www.timesonline.co.uk...]

Very interesting. Dubai, as we all know, is the moderate of the Muslim countries.

Also interesting is that the woman was British Muslim from Pakistan. At first I was thinking she was a foreigner, but then most people from Dubai are foreigners, something like 82% of the population are ex-pats.

Anyway, a good reason not to go these places.

Capitalist Tool Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:53:49am

If the Islamists or Wahabists, or whatever you want to call them- if they ever get control of the world, then expect this kind of treatment for yourselves.

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:54:12am

re: #59 darthstar

Mmm...there's nothing like a good old fashioned bleeding to remove the demons from the body.

You need to seek the care of a new physician, blood letting is way behind the times. As any physician worth his salt will tell you, trepanation is the way to go for proper demon removal.

Stanghazi Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:55:05am

re: #63 Slumbering Behemoth

You need to seek the care of a new physician, blood letting is way behind the times. As any physician worth his salt will tell you, trepanation is the way to go for proper demon removal.

Lovely word for the day!

Capitalist Tool Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:55:54am

re: #63 Slumbering Behemoth

You need to seek the care of a new physician, blood letting is way behind the times. As any physician worth his salt will tell you, trepanation is the way to go for proper demon removal.

Calling Father Merrin

MandyManners Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:55:54am

re: #57 Ben Hur

Oh, ewww. Ick.

DaddyG Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:55:57am

re: #20 RogueOne

...for having a speck of marijuana on the sole of his shoe.

Well that is a terrible waste. /

Kragar Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:56:14am

re: #63 Slumbering Behemoth

You need to seek the care of a new physician, blood letting is way behind the times. As any physician worth his salt will tell you, trepanation is the way to go for proper demon removal.

Only one cure for demonic possession. Total body dismemberment.

Obdicut Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:57:28am

re: #60 RogueOne

I didn't say not to deal with them, but they don't have to be our 'allies'. Ally, to me, indicates that we feel that the values, aims, behavior of our governments or societies are compatible. I think that during the Cold War, we got into the habit of endorsing countries and leaders who were satisfactorily anti-communist, even if they were, really, anti-democracy as well. I think that this is a continuation of this habit, where we are friendly with regimes that are little more than thugocracies, because they have percieved strategic value to us.

One of the rationalizes, post-facto, for the invasion of Iraq, was that Saddam was a deeply evil man and that the civil liberties of Iraqi's were severely curtailed, that Saddam's thugs could do whatever they wanted without fear of repercussion. This looks like exactly the same thing to me.

DaddyG Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:58:14am

This story illustrates the difference between the west and middle east. In western democratic nations any thug with a beat up oldsmobile can run you over. In the middle east only the upper classes can afford mercedes to run over infidels.

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:58:15am

re: #68 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Pfft. Space Marines. Typical.

Fart Knocker Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:58:39am

re: #59 darthstar

Mmm...there's nothing like a good old fashioned bleeding to remove the demons from the body.

You quack! Everyone knows it is all about humours out of alignment!
//

reloadingisnotahobby Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:58:51am

re: #62 Capitalist Tool

If the Islamists or Wahabists, or whatever you want to call them- if they ever get control of the world, then expect this kind of treatment for yourselves.

The great drugs ...or the plank with nails??
....I'll pass!;-)

DaddyG Mon, Jan 11, 2010 11:59:01am

re: #69 Obdicut
Co-dependents doesn't have that diplomatic ring that allies does.

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:00:40pm

re: #60 RogueOne

Not to pick on you but I keep seeing that statement. What exactly are we supposed to do about countries that have laws like these? If we stopped dealing with everyone that had laws we didn't like, it would get lonely pretty quickly.

True. However, we have a very close relationship with the Saudis that involves completely disregarding their hideous human rights record, and the fact that the largest terrorist attack carried out on U.S. soil was staffed by their citizens.

I know why. And most days I can sort of take a deep breath and cope with it. But it leaves a bitter taste when people act as though we went into Afghanistan because of the Taliban's abuses, or as though Saddam's torture chambers had just suddenly come to out attention,and we HAD to do something. Or the Saudis take back terrorists, give them a stern lecture, and let them go...and we, well, we wish they hadn't. But are we gonna invade over it? Hell no.

The Saudis. The oil states. Ladies and gentleman, our allies.

abolitionist Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:00:44pm

re: #55 CommonCents

Although this is not a humorous matter, it reminds me of a line in a movie (of which I cannot recall) where the mobster says... "Eh, he fell on a knife. Fourteen times."

Running Scared
Joe Pantoliano as Snake ... "Julio don't work for nobody. His boss had an accident, fell on a knife four times."
?

TampaKnight Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:01:46pm

I've been to Dubai before on work. It has that "western" smell, but beyond the layers of money there is the same hard line Islamic rule of law. I once saw the police drag a Muslim UAE citizen out of a "tourist pub" because he had a glass of wine....he was beaten in the street.

RogueOne Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:03:32pm

re: #69 Obdicut

I'll agree with 90% of that, I'm not much for the "realist" foreign policy approach. I just don't see the same kind of "well, they're our allies" when the EU passes blasphemy laws, or some canadian gets arrested for "hate speech", or some brit gets arrested for turning in a gun he found, or some poor bastard in singapore gets canned for littering, etc., etc. Bad shit happens everywhere.

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:03:33pm

re: #76 abolitionist

Running Scared
Joe Pantoliano as Snake ... "Julio don't work for nobody. His boss had an accident, fell on a knife four times."
?

Chicago as well. "He was going crazy, yelling 'You been screwing the milkman?' Then he ran into my knife. He ran into my knife ten times."

What, me worry? Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:03:53pm

"Mr al-Mulla [defense lawyer] said the fact the trial had taken place was 'a sign that the UAE is showing that everyone in this country can be put in front of law and judged.'
The BBC's Christian Fraser in the region says the verdict will do little to satisfy those who have long criticized the Emirates abject human rights record. [YA THINK??] They will argue it proves once again that the extended royal family and those Emiratis in positions of power are often above the rule of law, says our correspondent.

Do the Arabs really think the world is this stupid? I mean, clearly they must.

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:05:08pm

re: #80 marjoriemoon

Do the Arabs really think the world is this stupid? I mean, clearly they must.

I think they think it doesn't matter what we think.

RogueOne Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:06:23pm

re: #77 TampaKnight

I've been to Dubai before on work. It has that "western" smell, but beyond the layers of money there is the same hard line Islamic rule of law. I once saw the police drag a Muslim UAE citizen out of a "tourist pub" because he had a glass of wine...he was beaten in the street.

My nephew just started college here in the states and growing up in saudi has given him a healthy respect for an individuals civil rights.

Kragar Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:07:58pm

re: #71 Slumbering Behemoth

Pfft. Space Marines. Typical.

Just granting them the Emperor's Mercy. You'ld rather we call in the Inquisition and have them call for Exterminatus all the time?

What, me worry? Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:08:38pm

re: #75 SanFranciscoZionist

True. However, we have a very close relationship with the Saudis that involves completely disregarding their hideous human rights record, and the fact that the largest terrorist attack carried out on U.S. soil was staffed by their citizens.

I know why. And most days I can sort of take a deep breath and cope with it. But it leaves a bitter taste when people act as though we went into Afghanistan because of the Taliban's abuses, or as though Saddam's torture chambers had just suddenly come to out attention,and we HAD to do something. Or the Saudis take back terrorists, give them a stern lecture, and let them go...and we, well, we wish they hadn't. But are we gonna invade over it? Hell no.

The Saudis. The oil states. Ladies and gentleman, our allies.

We need them. We can't cut them lose. Not the Saudis, not OPEC, not even Venezuela and we got more oil from him and Mexico than the Arabs.

You would think a light would go off in the Republicans heads that we need to stop using as much oil as possible, utilizing alternative fuels as fast as we can to get away from these beasts. But no, it's more important to hate the scientists and fight against global warming than cut our foreign oil dependence. It makes no sense to me.

MandyManners Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:09:13pm

I'd rather go across country to Walley World with the Griswolds than go to UAE with George Clooney.

What, me worry? Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:10:13pm

re: #81 SanFranciscoZionist

I think they think it doesn't matter what we think.

Indeed, but they had the trial. The first trial of a royal person, so why even bother when they knew the outcome before the trial started?

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:12:04pm

re: #86 marjoriemoon

Indeed, but they had the trial. The first trial of a royal person, so why even bother when they knew the outcome before the trial started?

I don't know.

What, me worry? Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:13:11pm

re: #87 SanFranciscoZionist

I don't know.

LOL I'm venting. I wasn't really asking :)

Obdicut Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:15:21pm

re: #78 RogueOne

I think that a clear, clear sign that the ruling class of the country can torture and murder their citizens and get away with it is very different than other countries not valuing freedom of speech or the right to bear arms in the same way that we do. I think the blasphemy laws are stupid, I think the speech laws in Germany and elsewhere are counterproductive, but they don't wind up with citizens tortured and dead and their smug killer walking free.

The first examples you gave were of laws in Europe that you feel-- and I agree-- are unjust, improper laws. What happened in the UAE wasn't law, it was the corruption of law, the obvious, smirking, winking dismissal of the law.

RogueOne Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:16:40pm

re: #89 Obdicut

I'm more cynical than you I guess. He who has the money can do as he pleases just about everywhere on the planet.

Bob Dillon Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:23:58pm

re: #90 RogueOne

The West obviously does not have a lock on creative and talented attorneys.

Political Atheist Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:24:49pm

re: #84 marjoriemoon

You (or at least I) would think we could find a way to drill and use our own oil and vast gas depsoits. Apparently- Our pristine wilderness or beach is so important we will buy from the middle east, and let our dollars support Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Iran.... and all that really means. Just as American cocaine users fund drug gangs, American drivers fund horrific governments who also fund terrorists. It would be expensive after environmental safeguards were built, so we would use less. Less oil=less AGW.

RogueOne Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:29:26pm

OT: but speaking of stupid laws:

[Link: www.telegraph.co.uk...]

The 45-year-old IT company manager, who does not want to be named, was arrested in front of his wife and young son, was fingerprinted and had his DNA taken.

It came after staff at Rother District Council in East Sussex declared the phrase “It’s the “do as you likey” attitude that I am against” – sent in an email to their planning department – was potentially racist because “likey” rhymes with the derogatory word “pikey”.

Arrested for using a word that rhymes with a word that might be derogatory.

Ericus58 Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:29:50pm

re: #51 WaveriderCA

If you think the two situations are comparable (UAE and Saddam Iraq) ... I think your perspective needs a realignment. Last time I checked the UAE hasn't been mass murdering people...

Perhaps you have mistaken the direction of my post...

What, me worry? Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:34:05pm

re: #92 Rightwingconspirator

You (or at least I) would think we could find a way to drill and use our own oil and vast gas depsoits. Apparently- Our pristine wilderness or beach is so important we will buy from the middle east, and let our dollars support Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Iran... and all that really means. Just as American cocaine users fund drug gangs, American drivers fund horrific governments who also fund terrorists. It would be expensive after environmental safeguards were built, so we would use less. Less oil=less AGW.

It's not even about the importance of our habitats. I mean, that's a huge consideration, but we don't have enough oil in this part of the world to sustain us for any great length of time. Maybe another generation or so, then we've wasted 25 years and are back, once again, at square one. You have to think 100s of years in the future.

This should have started when the hippies were screaming about it 40 years ago. If it had started then, we'd be well on our way now. We'd be using very little oil at all.

For all the screaming the Right does about radical Muslim extremists, they hate the Democrats and the liberals more, because they will never give in to them, as they see it. Better to cut their noses off to spite their face... better to keep the Saudis and Chavez living high on the hog... than admit ~~global warming is real.~~ we have to get off foreign oil.

Obdicut Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:42:59pm

re: #90 RogueOne

Meh. I know what you mean, but it's a matter of important degrees. Nobody in the US could get away with that. Not with a tape. There are more protections. You can never prevent the evil from attaining power, but you can make it difficult for them, you can make it difficult for them to abuse it in the public eye.

I'm pretty cynical, but I think that even with cynicism, the major change that the Enlightenment has brought is the modification of privilege.

RogueOne Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:44:21pm

re: #96 Obdicut

If he had a philly pd badge on he would have gotten an award.//

RogueOne Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:46:30pm

I have to run folks, keep up the good fight.

Ericus58 Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:47:05pm

re: #95 marjoriemoon

For all the screaming the Right does about radical Muslim extremists, they hate the Democrats and the liberals more, because they will never give in to them, as they see it. Better to cut their noses off to spite their face... better to keep the Saudis and Chavez living high on the hog... than admit ~~global warming is real.~~ we have to get off foreign oil.

Seriously? This is what you think in your heart of hearts?

Wow....

100

Political Atheist Mon, Jan 11, 2010 12:56:19pm

re: #95 marjoriemoon

Good points, although we may have far more energy in this hemisphere than we thought, much of it the far less problematic natural gas. In any case funding and running with nuclear is what the left has opposed, and the right gave up on. Both sides of the aisle have little to be proud of I'm sorry to say.

101

What, me worry? Mon, Jan 11, 2010 1:29:55pm

re: #99 Ericus58

Seriously? This is what you think in your heart of hearts?

Wow...

Might surprise you that I read the same from some of the folks at the stalker site.

102

What, me worry? Mon, Jan 11, 2010 1:34:17pm

re: #100 Rightwingconspirator

Good points, although we may have far more energy in this hemisphere than we thought, much of it the far less problematic natural gas. In any case funding and running with nuclear is what the left has opposed, and the right gave up on. Both sides of the aisle have little to be proud of I'm sorry to say.

I'm all for nuclear, but we can't dispose of it properly. If we could dispose of the waste, I think it's the best choice.

Coal should be stopped completely. It's not clean and it's dangerous to mine.

All the energy companies today are well on their way of advancing wind and solar. Watch for Obama focusing more energy (har har) and resources (hee hee) this way after the healthcare bill is complete.

103

DaChew Mon, Jan 11, 2010 1:47:08pm

This court rulling by the UAE makes perfect sense. There was a wrestler here in Detroit named the Iron Sheik. He used to do dirty stuff like this to Dick the Bruiser and Bobo Brazil all the time. I thought he just hated the U.S. because he would spit on the American flag but now I think a chemical imbalance or drugs makes more sense. It has to be something that specifically effects sheiks.

104

What, me worry? Mon, Jan 11, 2010 1:52:48pm

re: #103 DaChew

This court rulling by the UAE makes perfect sense. There was a wrestler here in Detroit named the Iron Sheik. He used to do dirty stuff like this to Dick the Bruiser and Bobo Brazil all the time. I thought he just hated the U.S. because he would spit on the American flag but now I think a chemical imbalance or drugs makes more sense. It has to be something that specifically effects sheiks.

lol Well I don't think the Iron Sheik was any more of a wrestler than he was a sheik! I used to watch WWF wrestling religiously and even went to a few matches. I saw the Hulk, Randy Savage, Lex Lugar, Bobby Heenan(?) those guys. Loved it. Like live cartoons.

I just looked up the wiki on the "Sheik". He's actually Iranian!

105

idioma Mon, Jan 11, 2010 2:20:05pm

This is why we need oil independence. We should not do business with these people.

106

jaydub Mon, Jan 11, 2010 2:57:31pm

Probably an Ambien user.

107

idioma Mon, Jan 11, 2010 3:26:49pm

re: #106 jaydub