· March, 2007

Stories about Saudi Arabia from March, 2007

Israel: On the Saudi Initiative

  29 March 2007

Israeli blogger Yaeli suggests that her country responds to the Saudi initiative using the analysis being made by a Lebanese. “If Israel’s position is reasonable – and I think it is (the green line needs to be renegotiated, among other things), then these opinions should be put to the Arab...

Saudi Arabia: Jailed Activists

  29 March 2007

Saudi-American blogger and journalist Rasheed Abou-Alsamh discusses whether a number of jailed Saudi citizens are terrorists or political activists.

Saudi Arabia and the Smiths

  29 March 2007

Saudi blogger Fedo links to an episode of American Dad, in which Stan Smith and his family are relocated to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi: No Photos Allowed

  28 March 2007

Saudi-based blogger Sand Gets In My Eyes rants about a ban on taking pictures using camera phones being reimposed in the Kingdom. “This week, Saudi Arabia announced that it will impose 1-year prison sentences and fines of 500,000 Saudi Riyals ($133,000) misuse of mobile telephone cameras, such as taking unauthorized...

Saudi Arabia: Child Slaves

  23 March 2007

Blogger Issandr Al Amrani links to a BBC documentary on the child slaves of Saudi Arabia here. “These children (from poor countries like neighbouring Yemen) are often sold by families who are either duped into believing their offspring will get a better life or sometimes simply threatened. Once in the...

Arabisc: A Pictorial Tour of the Middle East

  19 March 2007

When I first saw these pictures. I thought to myself sheep = New Zealand. How wrong was I! A closer look will show you that the donkey was familiar, the grass not that green and palm trees in the background. It was closer to home than I thought. We kick...

Saudi Arabia: Rectum Scare at LA Airport

  7 March 2007

Saudi blogger Yazeez links to a news article which claims: An Iraqi national wearing wires and concealing a magnet inside his rectum triggered a security scare at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday but officials said he posed no apparent threat.

Saudi Arabia: Embassy Emergency Drill

  7 March 2007

Saudi-based British diplomatic spouse/blogger Chris Neal says emergency exercises in embassies have their benefits. “I won't go into any more detail than that, but from what I hear the exercise was a very worthwhile activity and the lessons learned will help to further strengthen the emergency plans,” he writes.

Arabisc: An Open letter to the Saudi Labour Minister

  6 March 2007

Saudi Arabian blogger Raed Al Saeed has written an open letter to his Labour Minister Dr Ghazi Al Gosaibi, who is also a distinguished writer and diplomat, and posted it online. The letter, whether it made it to Dr Al Gosaibi's office or not, is available on the worldwide web...

Lebanon: Anxiety and Cautious Optimism

  5 March 2007

Most of the posts in the Lebanese blogosphere reflect the atmosphere of anxiety, pessimism and mistrust that is the general mood of the Lebanese nowadays. Here is a summary of some of the posts. An attempt has been made to include one or two light posts with brighter outlooks, but...