At the heart of K.S.A. is the brightly shining star of a dull black rock that fell out of the sky totally inexplicably, i.e. divine. Many centuries later, it still radiates its dark influence far beyond the huge sarcophagus of Kaba. Also totally inexplicable.
The tricky part about Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries is that the Sunnis hate the Shias and vice versa, and there is considerable friction between the groups in places like Lebanon where (Shiite) Hezbollah hold considerable power and have cast their lot with Assad. Politics… but, as always, religion!
Assuming that the people fleeing ISIS are likely to be those in ISIS’ firing-line (secularists, liberals, Shia, the sane), and given where ISIS draws its inspiration, wouldn’t Syrian refugees heading for Saudi be rather like Polish Jews heading to Bavaria to escape Nazism?
Would anyone seriously consider the Gulf oil sheikhdoms as places of refuge? They all have appalling human rights records, particularly in regard to the virtual enslavement of foreign workers.
RJW, it’s a comparative determination. It doesn’t have to be good, it merely has to be sufficiently less bad than the alternative.
That said, I have a family member who worked in Saudi Arabia for a few years, and their testimony makes me wonder how it could be less bad than almost anywhere else, unless one is a Saudi male. But then, any shelter in a storm, eh?
At the heart of K.S.A. is the brightly shining star of a dull black rock that fell out of the sky totally inexplicably, i.e. divine. Many centuries later, it still radiates its dark influence far beyond the huge sarcophagus of Kaba. Also totally inexplicable.
Guess I’m not so inspired then. And just as well.
I think what’s most interesting about that graphic is that Israel/Palestine is in gray and has no number, like they’re not part of the middle east.
In fact there are quite a few Syrians who have received refuge in Israel, mainly wounded who have been treated in Israeli hospitals.
http://dailysignal.com/2015/07/21/how-an-israeli-hospital-builds-bridges-with-syria-by-caring-for-the-wars-wounded/
The tricky part about Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries is that the Sunnis hate the Shias and vice versa, and there is considerable friction between the groups in places like Lebanon where (Shiite) Hezbollah hold considerable power and have cast their lot with Assad. Politics… but, as always, religion!
But no humanity!
Assuming that the people fleeing ISIS are likely to be those in ISIS’ firing-line (secularists, liberals, Shia, the sane), and given where ISIS draws its inspiration, wouldn’t Syrian refugees heading for Saudi be rather like Polish Jews heading to Bavaria to escape Nazism?
There seems to be a small country on that map with no data. Right between Egypt and Jordan.
I see StlSin got there first.
Lebanon looks overwhelmed– are they getting any international aid channeled to help?
Would anyone seriously consider the Gulf oil sheikhdoms as places of refuge? They all have appalling human rights records, particularly in regard to the virtual enslavement of foreign workers.
RJW, it’s a comparative determination. It doesn’t have to be good, it merely has to be sufficiently less bad than the alternative.
That said, I have a family member who worked in Saudi Arabia for a few years, and their testimony makes me wonder how it could be less bad than almost anywhere else, unless one is a Saudi male. But then, any shelter in a storm, eh?