Comments on: Authoritarian Reformers http://themoderatevoice.com/16719/authoritarian-reformers/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:43:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: DLS http://themoderatevoice.com/16719/authoritarian-reformers/comment-page-1/#comment-108935 DLS Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:56:36 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/places/asia/middle-east/saudi-arabia/16719/authoritarian-reformers/#comment-108935 Actually, it sounds like Pakistan, not like Friedman. Actually, it sounds like Pakistan, not like Friedman.

]]> By: StockBoySF http://themoderatevoice.com/16719/authoritarian-reformers/comment-page-1/#comment-108885 StockBoySF Fri, 28 Dec 2007 04:17:15 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/places/asia/middle-east/saudi-arabia/16719/authoritarian-reformers/#comment-108885 Most of the 9/11 terrorists were from the Kingdom. Obviously the terrorists were unhappy with the West.... Any reforms undertaken should be thoughtful so they do not incite any more violence than necessary (and people hate to change and some violence is inevitable- especially given what we've seen in that area of the world the past few years). Reform is good but it will be painful getting there. As far as whether the Saudis are truly reforming or just going through the motions- I don't know. I haven't spoken to enough Saudis to get a feel for what they might be thinking and where they think their country should head. Most of the 9/11 terrorists were from the Kingdom. Obviously the terrorists were unhappy with the West…. Any reforms undertaken should be thoughtful so they do not incite any more violence than necessary (and people hate to change and some violence is inevitable- especially given what we’ve seen in that area of the world the past few years).

Reform is good but it will be painful getting there.

As far as whether the Saudis are truly reforming or just going through the motions- I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to enough Saudis to get a feel for what they might be thinking and where they think their country should head.

]]> By: boy http://themoderatevoice.com/16719/authoritarian-reformers/comment-page-1/#comment-108878 boy Fri, 28 Dec 2007 02:40:24 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/places/asia/middle-east/saudi-arabia/16719/authoritarian-reformers/#comment-108878 Ah, shades of Thomas Friedman!... I remember Friedman trying to sell us on the Iraq War a few years back, saying that--if one wanted to understand the potential for some Islamic countries--just look at how well the reforms in Iran were going. Now, inasmuch as the people of Iran are naturally pretty pro-American, and the Saudis not so much, I don't hold out much hope that what you're saying is to be believed. You say "gradualism", I say "anti-evolution." Saudi Arabia is the enemy of liberal westernism, yo. Ah, shades of Thomas Friedman!…

I remember Friedman trying to sell us on the Iraq War a few years back, saying that–if one wanted to understand the potential for some Islamic countries–just look at how well the reforms in Iran were going.

Now, inasmuch as the people of Iran are naturally pretty pro-American, and the Saudis not so much, I don’t hold out much hope that what you’re saying is to be believed.

You say “gradualism”, I say “anti-evolution.”

Saudi Arabia is the enemy of liberal westernism, yo.

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