'Gobsmacked' is the only word that comes anywhere near my total 'shock 'n' awe' at the activities of 'MbS', er, that's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the royal leader of Saudi Arabia. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here's one that sums it all up:
That is Prince 'MbS' sitting under a picture of Jesus Christ in the company of the Coptic Pope in St. Mark's Orthodox Coptic cathedral in Cairo! That noise you just heard is your chin hitting your chest!
According to Mr. Thomas Lifson at The American Thinker, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia has extended an open invitation to Copts to visit Saudi where they will be treated as guests:
... the signal that they are to be treated as guests is vital. Arab culture places a tremendous emphasis on being a gracious host, and re-classifying Copts from the category of “infidels” worthy of scorn and persecution to welcome “guests” is powerful:
I can only hope, and perhaps pray to Allah, that the security detail protecting 'MbS' is of top quality because not satisfied with cuddling up to the Copts, he has agreed a joint deal with Egypt to build an entirely new, $10 billion city at the top of the Red Sea where Egypt, Israel, Jordon and Saudi Arabia's borders meet:
It is planned to be a free city or open city, where Saudis can live a fully modern 21st century life, freed of religious regulations that will be gradually relaxed elsewhere in the Kingdom. In addition, nationals from Jordan, Egypt and Israel can enter and work there in planned high technology investments. Its isolation from the rest of Saudi Arabia will allow it to be different, and to become a magnet for Saudis – males and females – who wish to be free of the shackles of pious Muslim life.
There are only two possible outcomes open to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Either he will become one of the greatest men in human history, or someone will shoot him! Alas, I lack a God to pray to but he has my very best wishes for a long life!
David, Jesus was killed by the mob, allegedly.
Posted by: jimmy glesga | Tuesday, 06 March 2018 at 19:34
You sure he wasn't just there to measure up the curtains ?
Posted by: david morris | Tuesday, 06 March 2018 at 20:09
Interesting article. Maybe Islam can learn to be more tolerant and Christianity a little less?
Posted by: Whitewall | Tuesday, 06 March 2018 at 20:33
I would like to see this work, a little more tolerance and libertarianism is no bad thing. Sadly, I feel there are too many vested interests who would want to see this initiative fail. That's the problem with being realistic, one is aware of how malevolent humans can be.
Posted by: rapscallion | Wednesday, 07 March 2018 at 08:28
Wow. What a concept, what a vision. I too hope he lives a long life - he's really hit on the one thing that could change their society - offer all the advantages of 20th Century living and let them speak for themselves. The older people may hate it but I suspect the young will embrace it.
Posted by: Mayfly | Wednesday, 07 March 2018 at 09:06
Another triumph for Donald Trump!
Posted by: backofanenvelope | Wednesday, 07 March 2018 at 10:09
"I suspect the young will embrace it"
Women especially.
Posted by: Whitewall | Wednesday, 07 March 2018 at 11:28
Has he been notified what he'll have left when the oil's gone or is no longer the number one commodity on the planet? Our betters - their opinion - are already decreeing that the joke car will take over at some fantasy point in the future and we'll no longer be allowed the ones which don't have to haul around a ton of battery to travel fifty miles.
Posted by: The Jannie | Wednesday, 07 March 2018 at 17:09
https://oilprice.com/Geopolitics/Middle-East/Saudi-Arabias-New-Deal-With-The-US-Averting-Implosion.html
You'll recall (????) David, my averring "it's been going on ever since you began posting about the likelihood of the Israelis striking Iran"?
MbS you may be aware is the most likely candidate to've purchased that da Vinci that was sold at auction not so long ago?
Posted by: JK | Thursday, 08 March 2018 at 00:54