Various observations:
1. Geopolitics and oil dependency make strange bedfellows. Disgusting ones, even.
2. American Social Liberals: This is was a real theocracy looks like. Bear that in mind next time you think ranting how having "In God We Trust" on our money is tantamount to a crime against humanity. (It's irksome on a variety of levels, but let's maintain some perspective, too.)
3. American Social Conservatives: This is what a real theocracy looks like. Is this really the direction you want to take the country? (And, no, you can't just handwave "Well, that's those uncivilized Muslims," because a look at your beloved "Christian America" and its history — especially its early days — shows the same sort of thing happening far too often. Read up about the founding of Rhode Island. Read up why James Madison was so gung-ho about religious liberty.)
4. American Right-Wing and Neo-Conservative Punditry: Next time you start demagoguing about the Axis-of-Evil horrors of the Chinese, or the North Koreans, or the Iranians, remember who we're busy propping up, selling arms to, and generally making foreign policy kissy-face toward across many, many US Administrations. These guys.
Saudi Liberals website founder sentenced to 10 years in jail and 1,000 lashes
A court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced the editor of an Internet forum he founded to discuss the role of religion in the conservative Islamic kingdom to 10 years in jail and 1,000 lashes, Saudi media reported on Wednesday.
As an American Conservative and a Christian (the two are not the same), Dave….I wholeheartedly agree with you.