Sadly, They Won't Listen to You
Reader comment on article: Hearing on “Should the United States Do More to Help U.S. Citizens Held against Their Will in Saudi Arabia?”

Submitted by Resident of Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Jun 13, 2002 at 10:06

This article is brilliant, and sums up the frustrations most foreign residents of KSA voice every day in conversation.

The fact is that the Saudis hate the West, with America occupying the first position.

All attempts by us to show respect for their culture are interpreted as weakness by us and confirmation that they are superior.

If you ask a Saudi why their government should be allowed to pay for new mosques in London, whilst they publicly flog and then deport Filipinos caught praying together, and refuse to allow Christians to bring Bibles with them, they answer that it is because Islam is the true religion and that if we allow mosques to be built why should they not pay for them.

Their press daily spews out anti-Western propaganda, and recently has carried regular articles criticising the 'brutal' treatment and harrassment of Saudis in the States. Here however, there is no automatic right to see a lawyer of you are arrested, and the consular staff have no right of access to you if you are held by the authorities.

Meanwhile in the UK, many schools do not celebrate Christmas now, in case it 'offends' Muslim pupils.

It would be wonderful if Congress listened to you, but I fear they will continue to grovel before the Saudis.

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