[fourdeuce82d]

Having lived there from '62-'80, I can believe it.
Actually, having been a snot nosed little E-1 in the 82d., I can believe it as well- "Private Shiite-Head- WHERE IS YOUR WEAPON? *grin*

[blau993]

Actually, in the Kingdom it would be "Private Sunni-Boy".

[Iris7]

If I were to repeat the first hand stories I have heard about the Saudis told me in confidence by people who were totally amazed by their experiences, by people totally shocked to the core, by people who really, after months and years can hardly believe what they experienced truly happened, even in this forum I would be accused of racism. So I won't.

I will say this, that when those folks run out of oil money they will either have to be fed and watered by outsiders or most of them will die.

[blam]

"There's something discouraging about having a 50 cal machine gun pointed at you. "

Yup, met one of those in Saigon in 1966 as a civilian breaking curfew.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Some of those guns are even loaded. It seems that Barney Fife does exist in real life, even in the Middle East. In remote areas, chances are the men at the checkpoints are most likely locked and loaded, but in areas with a large police presence some guards aren't given bullets to keep them from hurting themselves or others.