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Saudi Royal Family Is Still Spending in an Age of Austerity
nytimes.com ^ | 12/27/2016 | NICHOLAS KULISH and MARK MAZZETTI

Posted on 12/27/2016 6:39:02 AM PST by rktman

TANGIER, Morocco — Behind a tall perimeter wall, studded with surveillance cameras and guarded by Moroccan soldiers, a sprawling new palace for King Salman of Saudi Arabia rose on the Atlantic coast here last summer.

Even as the Saudi government canceled a quarter of a trillion dollars’ worth of projects back home as part of a fiscal austerity program, workers hustled to finish bright blue landing pads for helicopters at the vacation compound and to erect a tent the size of a circus big-top where the king could feast and entertain his enormous retinue.

The royal family’s fortune derives from the reserves of petroleum discovered during the reign of Salman’s father, King Abdulaziz ibn Saud, more than 75 years ago. The sale of oil provides billions of dollars in annual allowances, public-sector sinecures and perks for royals, the wealthiest of whom own French chateaus and Saudi palaces, stash money in Swiss bank accounts, wear couture dresses under their abayas and frolic on some of the world’s biggest yachts out of sight of commoners.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: chaching; financiers; houseofsaud; muslimworld; royals; saudis
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Yeah, I know.....nytimes. But it is (to me anyway) an interesting read into the funders of terrorist groups.
1 posted on 12/27/2016 6:39:02 AM PST by rktman
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To: rktman
The Saudi government doesn't fund the terrorists. WE are their biggest customer.

Best look to INDONESIA for Islam-run-amok. Most Indonesians are Muslim and it's the largest Muslim country in the world. They are mostly ungovernable being a nation of islands.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-security-idUSKBN14C0X3 Fighting back: How Indonesia's elite police turned the tide on militants

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/01/isis-indonesia-foreign-fighters/422403/
"In recent days, rumblings of ISIS have reached the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. Security forces in Indonesia, which is home to some 200 million Muslims, launched a manhunt for the militant leader Santoso, who had publicly pledged loyalty to the Islamic State. Police arrested several suspected ISIS supporters amid chatter about terror plots, while Australia’s attorney-general warned that the Islamic State was intent on establishing a “distant caliphate” in the Southeast Asian island nation."

==============================

Only 25% of ALL Muslims are Arabs. That does mean that 75% of all Muslims are "others." Check it out...it is a fact.
I know how much fun it is to hate the Arabs, especially the Saudis...but there just aren't that many of them.

2 posted on 12/27/2016 7:00:12 AM PST by cloudmountain
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To: cloudmountain

No one here said or thinks it’s fun to hate muslims in the Middle East. And neither are we small minded enough to think that they are only in one part of the world. You presume a good deal with your silliness.


3 posted on 12/27/2016 7:16:02 AM PST by Noamie
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To: rktman

Austerity the world over is for the little people not the controlling elites.


4 posted on 12/27/2016 7:17:55 AM PST by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again,")
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To: cloudmountain

In fact, a shocking report yesterday noted a Hannukah party THROWN BY the Saudi’s. It seems Obie’s slam of Israel and kiss up to Iran has created some strange bedfellows uniting in fear of Iran.


5 posted on 12/27/2016 7:29:28 AM PST by chiller (One from the Right - One for the Fight)
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To: cloudmountain

We used to own a few rental houses that we used to house nuns and a few priests through the Catholic church. We had one priest in one for awhile that was from Sri Lanka and I talked to him about muslims and Christians in his country. Was a sad tale.


6 posted on 12/27/2016 7:33:02 AM PST by sheana
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To: rktman

I’ve visited Dubai,in the United Arab Emirates,several times.Dubai is,among other things,the place where rich Saudis go to let their hair down (it’s within driving distance of Saudi Arabia).One of the “must see” spots in the city is the Mall of Dubai,said to be the largest mall in the world.Every brand that the world’s rich buys..DeBeers,Gucci,etc,etc is there.As you approach the main entrance of the mall you pass by the valet parking area and in that parking area you see Bugattis,Ferraris,Lamborghinis,Bentlys,etc.And half these cars have Saudi plates on them.


7 posted on 12/27/2016 7:33:03 AM PST by Gay State Conservative (Deplorables' Lives Matter)
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To: Noamie
No one here said or thinks it’s fun to hate muslims in the Middle East. And neither are we small minded enough to think that they are only in one part of the world. You presume a good deal with your silliness.

I guess you haven't had the chance to read the plethora of anti-Muslim screeds here.

SUCH a clever call sign. I guess it describes the friendships you have...NOT. OR maybe you CAN'T make friends, amis ou amies.

"Silliness"?? Hmmmm. I guess logic isn't your forte.

8 posted on 12/27/2016 7:34:33 AM PST by cloudmountain
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To: rktman
Since the King owns all the petroleum and natural gas in his Kingdom and he made $1,000,000,000.00 (one billion) every two and a half days, 1983 money, he can afford to spend.

He has sent and sends BILLION$ in foreign aid to countries in need, even to Christian countries.
Charity is one of the five pillars of Islam.

BTW, the Saudis have an estimated 200 more years of their natural resources. They KNOW that they will run out and are preparing for it. They educate their young to the highest degree possible. They can and do plan ahead.

9 posted on 12/27/2016 7:39:56 AM PST by cloudmountain
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To: sheana
We used to own a few rental houses that we used to house nuns and a few priests through the Catholic church. We had one priest in one for awhile that was from Sri Lanka and I talked to him about muslims and Christians in his country. Was a sad tale.

No doubt.
Sri Lanka's story is a sad one. Changing their name from Ceylon had to have been traumatic for many. Ceylonese to Sri Lankans.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka

Ghandi was assassinated by one of his own Hindus...for DARING to tell people that we all worship the same God.
There are plenty of FReepers here who insist that our Christian God is NOT Allah. The Muslims believe that our God and Allah are the same...but not some of OUR very own FReepers.

But, what would I know? My husband and I only LIVED and worked in the KSA for five years. Not months, years. Five long years.

Bless you for your generosity in the housing of God's earthly workers.

10 posted on 12/27/2016 7:48:45 AM PST by cloudmountain
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To: chiller
In fact, a shocking report yesterday noted a Hannukah party THROWN BY the Saudi’s. It seems Obie’s slam of Israel and kiss up to Iran has created some strange bedfellows uniting in fear of Iran.

The Saudis ALWAYS considered Jews and Christians good people to hire because they are PEOPLE OF THE BOOK...the Bible.

The big petroleum company, Saudi Aramco would NEVER hire Hindus, only Christian and Muslim employees and yes, even Jews, but AMERICAN Jews. They didn't hire Hindus because they were/are NOT "people of the Book."

I can even quote you a couple of verses in the KORAN which have OUR Bible quoted.

11 posted on 12/27/2016 7:53:07 AM PST by cloudmountain
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To: cloudmountain

Indonesia is “mostly” ungovernable? Have you ever been here (Indonesia)? The only threat to Indonesia is the Arabs who come in and stir up shite, and most Indonesians loathe Arabs.

Santoso and his whole mob are all dead and buried, thanks to DENSUS 88, the real guarantors of Indonesian stability. For islam run amok, look to Pakistan.


12 posted on 12/27/2016 7:54:30 AM PST by punchamullah
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To: cloudmountain

Most places the Catholic church has shut down their convents. They have to live somewhere. The Church decided it was cheaper to pay us for a 3 bedroom house to house the nuns than for the nuns to pay rent elsewhere. We had 2 houses that housed 6 nuns. It was a trial run and a booming success but the power brokers up north shut the project down. ;(


13 posted on 12/27/2016 7:55:25 AM PST by sheana
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To: cloudmountain

Your support of Islam is disturbing. You do know that Islam is a satanic death cult that demands all infidels must convert, die or become slaves. Until you understand the concepts of taqiyya and abrogation you will never understand Islam.


14 posted on 12/27/2016 8:19:24 AM PST by SVTCobra03 (You can never have enough friends, horsepower or ammunition.)
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To: cloudmountain

Most of the funding for madrassas all over the world including in the United States comes from Saudi Arabia.
They are spreading the most virulent form of Islam, Wahhabi.


15 posted on 12/27/2016 8:34:34 AM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here Of Citizen Parents)
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To: Lurkinanloomin

Most of the funding for madrassas all over the world including in the United States comes from Saudi Arabia.
They are spreading the most virulent form of Islam, Wahhabi.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Didn’t the Saudis finance 9/11? They are the enemy, for that alone.


16 posted on 12/27/2016 9:18:33 AM PST by Graybeard58 (+++)
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To: rktman

What a crude joke on humanity that all that oil is under the feet of savage cultists.


17 posted on 12/27/2016 10:10:24 AM PST by Organic Panic (Rich White Man Evicts Poor Black Family From Public Housing - MSNBCPBSCNNNYTABC)
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To: punchamullah
What I got about Indonesia was from the web.
We had a Chinese friend who was from Indonesia. Her surname was Wong. The Indonesians made her take an Indonesian name. She chose CHIDMAT.

I have no clue why the country did that. SHE said that the Chinese weren't particularly wanted. So, she changed her name. She eventually immigrated HERE.

18 posted on 12/27/2016 12:11:58 PM PST by cloudmountain
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To: rktman

It ultimately will not end up well for the Saudi royals.


19 posted on 12/27/2016 12:14:00 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: punchamullah
Indonesia is “mostly” ungovernable? Have you ever been here (Indonesia)? The only threat to Indonesia is the Arabs who come in and stir up shite, and most Indonesians loathe Arabs.
Santoso and his whole mob are all dead and buried, thanks to DENSUS 88, the real guarantors of Indonesian stability. For islam run amok, look to Pakistan.

======================================

You got that right.
Pakistan was on the list of places we had NO business going to.

In Urdu, "pak" means PURE. "stan" means LAND/COUNTRY.
Thus the Pakis consider themselves people from the Land of the Pure.

They finally got rid of the VERY few Christians in the country.

20 posted on 12/27/2016 12:19:44 PM PST by cloudmountain
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