Saudi Arabia - Canada

[mrsglowglow]

AIBU to think US, UK and other Western nations should stand with Canada who now face the wrath of Saudi for daring to speak out against their human rights position?

www.nbcnews.com/news/world/canada-defiant-after-saudi-arabia-freezes-trade-over-rights-criticism-n898231

Go Canada 🇨🇦.

Let's see how it works out but it is good to see at least one nation standing up to them.

www.nbcnews.com/news/world/canada-defiant-after-saudi-arabia-freezes-trade-over-rights-criticism-n898231

www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/07/saudi-arabia-canada-toronto-cn-tower-9-11-photo-apology

Although this tweet has since been removed I find it chilling.

That CN tower tweet made me feel physically sick.

It astounds me 17 of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi, yet they have appeared untouchable. What on earth are the West tied up in with the Kingdom.
I don’t think I want to know

No personally I don’t think it would do any good and would be the epitome of virtue signalling.

We stand to lose a multi million arms deal but to be honest I didn’t even know we made them, let alone supply them.

I find the whole business perverse. The US is busy ordering everyone to follow their position with Iran but yet happily they remain neutral when asked to comment on Saudi.

Countries like the US and UK are prepared to get involved in the internal affairs of Syria be that war if necessary but will not even so much as criticise Saudi.

the internal affairs of Syria

Yeah... once it spills over into civil war you can't really call it an "internal affair" anymore.

DieAntword if you are actually doing something virtuous that isn't 'virtue signalling' that is being virtuous. Actually, doing something to support human rights supporters who are struggling in an abusive regime is a good thing.

Doing good things is generally.......good.

When did doing the right thing become something to be sneered at?

The KSA is a vile regime that has an appalling human rights record it is Amnesty Internationals top 10 worse regimes in the world. When the U.K. sells arms to these people that makes us complicit in war crimes.

The U.K. sells arms that are used to kill innocents in Yemen what does that make us? Certainly not virtuous.

Weapons are used to kill people whoever you sell them to.

And I wasn't talking about some genuinely virtuous, if somewhat economically suicidal, act like packing in the arms trade, but rather any act of making a bunch of shocked "we stand with Canada" noises for the sake of making noises and looking like we're defending human rights.

I think the fact that the west hasn't voiced their support of Canada is a sign that NATO is sinking faster than the Titanic. 2 years ago, the allies would have voiced their support, but the US says its not their issue, so all the other little sheepies follow suit.

Bit more complicated The Hulks in that you need unanimity in the NAC to speak out iirc.

Whilst Turkey may have wanted to speak out against Saudi, the US currently has an issue with Turkey, so wouldn't support that. There is an older US Turkey problem in the background as well.

DieAntword where did the 'we' come from you may not be defending human rights but you have no idea what I do.

I am not in position to stand in front of a metaphorical tank but I can donate money to AI, campaign, write letters, educate people and post on internet discussions.

Or I could just turn a blind eye is that 'lack of virtue signalling'? Can I assume you have no virtue?

Well I meant "we" as a short hand for "the British government on behalf of the British people" which is rather a longer thing to write.

It's the arms thing.

I'm aware it's a bit more complicated scaryteacher, However I'm also aware that Trump is very fond of the Crown Prince of Saudi and not very fond of Justin Trudeau. Which in reality, is why there will be no official show of support.

Yep the Crown Prince of the House of Saud is a nicer bloke than Trudeau, he isn't always banging on about human rights and other boring stuff.

Good to know international geopolitics is based on sound reasoning.

Good to know international geopolitics is based on sound reasoning.

LOL, I would say prior to 2016 it was. And for most countries it still is. But not with the orange fucktrumpet in the White House. It's all about who throws him the biggest, fanciest party.

TheHulk I think it might have more to do with the sanctions currently being imposed on Turkey by the US, and the long simmering dispute about Gulen being in the US.

Other NATO nations are free to speak out outside NATO if they so wish - they are perfectly at liberty to do so.

DieAntword "And I wasn't talking about some genuinely virtuous, if somewhat economically suicidal, act like packing in the arms trade"

That is just it. They know that by condemning the atrocious human rights violations of Saudi Arabia it will mean an end to all those billions from arms trade. I hate knowing that our wealth in the uk is built on this trade and that it just carries on generation after generation.

🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

Can't see our government speaking up in support, sadly, as they don't want to loose an arms contract. They should ~ but they won't.

lose