Boycott / sanction Saudi Arabia!

521 posts / 0 new

Thu, 2015-12-31 07:35

DimmedDiamond

Pondering wrote:

DimmedDiamond wrote:
I think I made a good case why direct action by Canadian citizens will not accomplish anything, and is completely impossible (because there’s no way of doing it).

The environmental movement has succeeded in stopping all new pipelines from the oil sands against the will of a majority Harper government and the most powerful multi-national corporations on Earth.

We do live in a democracy. Why has the enviromental movement been so successful in stopping them? Why wasn't Harper able to push them through?

I posted a link to an article about environmental groups making some agreement with the Alberta NDP and oil companies to not oppose getting Alberta oil to market in exchange for a high hard cap on emissions that still leads to a radical increase.

I don't think they understand. The environmental groups can make all the deals they want. There is no "whipped vote". It is the people inhabiting the land along the pipelines that are objecting. They aren't going to just give up. Even if there were no such thing as climate change we still wouldn't want massive amounts of oil traveling through our communities and threatening our major waterways. Climate change just helps broaden support beyond the communities that are directly impacted. There is no left/right divide on this issue.

It is not at all impossible for Canadians to force the government to our collective will.

Despite sizable protest to the pipeline the way I see it is that the key factor for the momentary stalling of the pipeline was the sharp decline in oil prices. The deciding factor was profit margins, not citizen show of protest. And being held hostage with ‘lots of pollution’ and agreeing to ‘some pollution’ is progress I suppose, or its just a game to get away with some pollution. “You want me to not break your skull? How about I just break your nose instead? Compromise!“.

The idea that I was trying to get across was that you’ll notice that certain politicians, organizations, corporations support multiple deadly/impoverishing policies. Identifying them, and working to peacefully remove them or the very least neutering them would solve many issues at once (enviromental, wars, militarism, social, etc).

Thu, 2015-12-31 14:51

#53

iyraste1313

...sharp decline in oil prices...?

No can't agree! Sure their bottom line was effected big time...forcing them to live off of their borrowings thankfully through their control of governments and their various QE scams...but to give up their pet projects..that would bankrupt them!

No you have to give credit to the communities, the indigenous communities and their leadership...and yes populist democracy always wins in the end!

When the people are forced to wake up and smell the shit!

2016 will be the year...government bailouts, bank bail ins..collapsing industrial capitalist models...yes alternative movements will rise, based on desperation! and of course those few lonely activists out there, offering something other than mainstream pulp!

Sun, 2016-01-03 01:19

#54

NDPP

Uproar in Middle East After Saudi Arabia Executes Top Shiite Cleric [UPDATES and vid]

https://www.rt.com/news/327728-saudi-executes-shiite-cleric/

"Shiite Muslims around the Gulf Region have reacted with disgust and condemnation after Saudi Arabia executed a leading Shiite cleric, Sheikh Al Nimr on terror charges Saturday.

He was one of 47 people put to death.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned the Saudi Al Saud ruling family that their decision to execute a prominent Shiite cleric will result in a backlash.

'A harsh revenge will strike the Al Sauds in the near future and cause the fall of this pro-terrorist, anti-Islamic regime,' the Guards said in a statement cited by Mehr news agency..."

Canada is a strong supporter of Saudi Arabia.

Wed, 2016-01-06 05:40

#55

NDPP

Stephane Dion Stands By $15 B Saudi Arms Deal After Execution (and vid)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stephane-dion-saudi-arms-deal-1.3390854

"What is done is done and the contract is not something that we'll revisit,' Dion says..."

Notice CBC has chosen to delete 'comments' section on this article.

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah - Speech - January, 3, 2016, On Saudi Beheading of Shia Religious Leader, Shaykh Nimr al Nimr (and vid)

http://thesaker.is/sayyed-hassan-nasrallah-speech-january-3-2016-shaykh-...

"...Why the insistence on execution? Why, at this time, now, under these circumstances in the region?"

An important regional voice speaks to Islam and the world on recent Saudi outrages. Especially For Canada, in alliance with this disgusting and murderous monarchy in a US-led military coalition which consists of other takfiri terrorist funders, supporters and beneficiaries such as Turkey and Qatar, 'fighting ISIS' nudge, nudge wink, wink. If you start @ 2:34 you can skip religious preliminaries of his address.

Wed, 2016-01-06 09:46

#56

voice of the damned

I think I agree with allowing the arms deal to stand. The contracts had already been signed, and the workers and their union had every reason to expect the job to go forward. You should't fuck around with peoples' livelihoods.

That said, if the government wants to state that this will be the last time that Canadian workers get any state-negotiated work from the KSA, that works for me.

Wed, 2016-01-06 09:53

#57

voice of the damned

By the way, is there any logical reason why this recent execution should be viewed as the step-too-far that it's being treated as by much of the commentariat? As opposed to all the other questionable killings that the Saudi government carries out?

The impression I'm getting is that this incident is garnering a lot of attention because it has pissed off the Iranians big time. That's interesting from a realpolitik perspective, but I don't quite see that it translates into a moral argument for making the execution into a global cause celebre.

Wed, 2016-01-06 10:25

#58

Unionist

voice of the damned wrote:
By the way, is there any logical reason why this recent execution should be viewed as the step-too-far that it's being treated as by much of the commentariat? As opposed to all the other questionable killings that the Saudi government carries out?

The impression I'm getting is that this incident is garnering a lot of attention because it has pissed off the Iranians big time. That's interesting from a realpolitik perspective, but I don't quite see that it translates into a moral argument for making the execution into a global cause celebre.

They murdered a rival religious leader for no other reason than his being a leading political dissident. He committed no crime in the usual sense (at least, none that anyone has managed to identify). His prestige and following makes this a particularly egregious act. Do you know of another country which judicially, publicly executes political and religious leaders in such circumstances?

Of course, the MSM here raises the issue of Iran, for the sole reason of diverting attention away from the Saudi murderers and from their close alliance with the U.S. and other NATO powers. The MSM, in lockstep with the U.S. and Israel, has been creating a phony impression, for many years, that Iran is on the brink of triggering wars and nuclear attacks. Iran poses a threat to no one, and has never invaded any other country.

Are you suggesting that the entirety of Saudi behaviour - capped by this latest atrocity - doesn't "translate into a moral argument" to isolate and destroy the Saudi regime? Or are you saying that we didn't protest enough before, so we don't have enough grounds to protest now? What exactly is your point?

If this is the moment which wakes up the public in various countries to the need to wipe out the Saudi rulers - and especially, to cease our alliance with them (of which few people are aware) - then we should seize it.

Wed, 2016-01-06 10:41

#59

voice of the damned

Neither. I'm saying that we SHOULD end our complicity with Saudi human-rights violations, but that for me personally, given the information I have, the execution of Nimr al-Nimr doesn't constitute any sort of straw that breaks the camel's back.

And, yes, I recognize that it might be something that finally pushes western publics to care about human-rights in the KSA, which is of course good. But I'd be lying if I claimed that I sincerely thought it was any worse than executing, say, a fortune-teller.

Wed, 2016-01-06 10:42

#60

Slumberjack

Yes it's high time for the rulers of Canada and certain unions to wean themselves from lucrative, sweet tasting deals with head chopping, back whipping regimes like Saudi Arabia.

Wed, 2016-01-06 11:59

#61

Unionist

Slumberjack wrote:

Yes it's high time for the rulers of Canada and certain unions to wean themselves from lucrative, sweet tasting deals with head chopping, back whipping regimes like Saudi Arabia.

You might be surprised to learn this, but unions don't make deals with Saudi Arabia. Corporations do, and governments approve them or look the other way. But unions, being organizations of workers, have an absolute obligation to condemn this fascist regime, even if it costs their members jobs.

That's why I started this thread in September [i.e. the link below this para] - to remind the unions of their obligation, and to help expose those in the union movement (and the NDP, for that matter) who will connive with murderous tyrants for their own perceived short-term advantage:

[url=http://rabble.ca/babble/labour-and-consumption/unifor-to-ndp-shhhhh-abou... to NDP: Shhhhh about Saudi arms deals, our jobs are at stake![/url]

I and many other trade unionists confronted Unifor on this at the time, and we were able to achieve some half-baked retreat - more like a pseudo-retreat.

It's also the reason I started this boycott thread.

Now is the time for trade unions, and all of civil society, to demand that the Saudi regime be boycotted, sanctioned, and crushed. And those who remain complicit, whoever they may be, must be publicly exposed if they can't be influenced to change their stand.

Wed, 2016-01-06 12:33

#62

jjuares

voice of the damned wrote:
Are you suggesting that the entirety of Saudi behaviour - capped by this latest atrocity - doesn't "translate into a moral argument" to isolate and destroy the Saudi regime? Or are you saying that we didn't protest enough before, so we don't have enough grounds to protest now? What exactly is your point?

Neither. I'm saying that we SHOULD end our complicity with Saudi human-rights violations, but that for me personally, given the information I have, the execution of Nimr al-Nimr doesn't constitute any sort of straw that breaks the camel's back.

And, yes, I recognize that it might be something that finally pushes western publics to care about human-rights in the KSA, which is of course good. But I'd be lying if I claimed that I sincerely thought it was any worse than executing, say, a fortune-teller.

For me it is not a case of this execution is " worse" than any other. If this last execution results in mobilizing public opinion against this execrable regime then so be it.

Wed, 2016-01-06 12:41

#63

Slumberjack

Unionist wrote:
You might be surprised to learn this, but unions don't make deals with Saudi Arabia.

It would come as more of a surprise to me if I suggested they did.

Wed, 2016-01-06 12:53

#64

Unionist

Slumberjack wrote:

Unionist wrote:
You might be surprised to learn this, but unions don't make deals with Saudi Arabia.

It would come as more of a surprise to me if I suggested they did.

How does a union "wean itself" from a lucrative deal which it didn't make?

If you merely meant they should condemn these deals, yes, I've been saying that for months. But as opposed to corporations and governments, they are powerless to initiate them, and powerless to end them. Unifor couldn't even lawfully call a strike in that plant to oppose the deal - workers would be fired, union officers would be fined or imprisoned.

That's why the union movement needs to use its power, its voice, whatever political influence it can muster, to say "NO" not just to this deal, but to Canada's involvement in the war and suppression industry as a whole.

Meanwhile, it is unfortunate that all three "major" parties confirmed before the election - and to this day - that they have no intention of rescinding that contract. It shows once again that civil society must take the lead and force their hands, as with the BDS and similar movements. One day, we'll get lucky.

Wed, 2016-01-06 13:08

#65

lagatta

I agree with Unionist - though of course I also believe, as I'm sure he does, in the need to CONVERT jobs in military and polluting industries to jobs meeting the many unmet human needs in our society, and improving the climate and salubrity for humans and other forms of life. Rembember the British textile workers who supported the North in the US civil war, out of solidarity with Black slaves in the US south? Those workers were, as you know, horrifically overworked, underpaid and working under extemely dangerous and unhealthy conditions.

I'd be horrified if the Saudis killed a fortune-teller too. I think they do try to suppress some "popular" forms of worship. This man was, as far as I know, murdered for his beliefs. They are not my beliefs - I'm an atheist. But still, to kill someone for his or her beliefs (or lack of beliefs) is horrific.

Wed, 2016-01-06 13:21

#66

Slumberjack

Unionist wrote:
How does a union "wean itself" from a lucrative deal which it didn't make?

For starters maybe the union leadership shouldn't be in the business of advising political parties to shut up about it.

Wed, 2016-01-06 13:35

#67

Unionist

Slumberjack wrote:

Unionist wrote:
How does a union "wean itself" from a lucrative deal which it didn't make?

For starters maybe the union leadership shouldn't be in the business of advising political parties to shut up about it.

I'm tired of this conversation when we're saying the same thing and you're trying to suggest that we're not. I exposed and condemned Unifor on this board for doing just that, and I'm keeping that up in my real life.

Glad we agree. You know, it wouldn't hurt you to say "I agree" also once in a while. But that's just my opinion.

Wed, 2016-01-06 14:10

#68

Slumberjack

But I'm not in disagreement, nor am I saying that we are. If you say something, and then later somebody drops by and says something similar, it doesn't necessarily turn the place into a crime scene. Are we first expected to pay homage before commenting?

Wed, 2016-01-06 15:25

#69

NDPP

I wonder why Canadian 'progressives' continue to countenance, even support, their country being in bed with the worst of the worst? Do you really not see how outrageous it is belonging to a US-led coalition to 'fight ISIS' which includes members such as USA, Saudi and Turkey - themselves the main instigators, funders and supporters of the terrorists?

CrossTalk: Saudi's World

https://youtu.be/qp4xWDMjSm8

ME Tensions Escalate in Wake of Saudi Mass Beheadings

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2016/01/05/saud-j05.html

"Evidence emerged Monday that, indeed, the mass executions and the subsequent breaking of relations were part of a well-planned Saudi provocation. The British human rights group Reprieve, which first received the leaked memo, said it pointed to the 'politically motivated' character of the mass beheadings."

A Sunni-Shia war which these latest actions by the West's Saudi proxies are clearly designed to provoke, must be vigorously and strenuously opposed by all. How many more millions of refugees does it take before we begin to apprehend the consequences of our contiunued acquiescence to this monstrious imperialist project we have been closely involved with since our 'heavy lifting' in the destruction of Libya - a new and growing ISIS stronghold.

Wed, 2016-01-06 15:29

#70

swallow

voice of the damned wrote:
I think I agree with allowing the arms deal to stand. The contracts had already been signed, and the workers and their union had every reason to expect the job to go forward. You should't fuck around with peoples' livelihoods.

Just with peoples' lives?

There's every possibility that these armoured vehicles will be used to kill people, after all.

Thu, 2016-01-07 08:54

#71

iyraste1313

TEHRAN (FNA)- A prominent Syrian dissident leader says Israel has persuaded the Riyadh government to kill prominent Saudi Muslim cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr.

“It is clear that the Saudis had taken order from their masters in Tel Aviv and the US to commit the crime of executing Sheikh Nimr; therefore, it is not surprising to say that the decision to execute Sheikh Nimr was taken in Tel Aviv and confirmed in Washington,” Secretary-General of al-Talia opposition party Noufal Noufal told FNA on Wednesday.

He said that the al-Saud has always been a tool in the US hands to implement its plots in the region....

...perhaps this thread title should be expanded to include al-Saud´s partners in crime?

...if of course this dissident´s analysis is correct and if of course we as intellectuals are to be in respect of the laws of complicity.....

Thu, 2016-01-07 14:20

#72

NDPP

Saudi Game-Changing Head-Chopping - by Robert Parry

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/34469-saudi-game-changing...

"...The big question that remains, however, is: Will Official Washington's dominant neocon/liberal-interventionist claque continue to protect the Saudis, who have build a regional alliance of convenience with Israel over their shared hatred of Iran?

Inside Official Washington's bubble - where the neocons and liberal hawks hold sway - there is a determination to make the 'designated villains,' the Iranians, the Syrian government, Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Russians. This list of 'villains' matches up quite well with Israeli and Saudi interests and, thus endless demonization of these 'villains' remains the order of the day.

Mealy-mouthed comments from [Ottawa or] the State Department spokesmen can no longer hide the grim truth that US 'allies' are really civilization's enemies..."

Thu, 2016-01-07 18:36

#73

NDPP

The Sauds' Impunity

http://off-guardian.org/2016/01/06/the-sauds-impunity/

"No mattter how bad the fundamentalist Sunni-Islamic Saud royal family are, [Canada and] America's government still supports them and condemns the countries that the Sauds hate: these are the Shia-led nations of Iran and Syria. All jihadist terrorism is Sunni, none of it is Shia. but the US government is anti-Shia, not anti-Sunni..."

Trudeau Told To Deepen Ties to Saudi Arabia, Brace for Change in Iran

http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2016/01/07/trudeau-told-to-deepen-ties-...

"Federal officials have told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Canada's strategic interest would be well served by strengthening economic ties with oil-rich Saudi Arabia because of its powerful position in the Persian Gulf."

And because Tel Aviv and Washington wish it so.

Thu, 2016-01-07 22:48

#74

Unionist

Two days before the October 19 election:

[url=http://www.lfpress.com/2015/10/16/the-ndps-irene-mathyssen-fires-back-at... NDP’s Irene Mathyssen fires back at Liberal Khalil Ramal’s claim the NDP will sink the lucrative military contact[/url]

Quote:
¸

Liberal candidate Khalil Ramal has sent out a letter to voters in the NDP-held riding, the only federal seat the NDP has ever won in London, accusing the NDP of wanting to “revisit” the contract.

“If (the NDP) get their way, this will cost us and our children thousands of high quality jobs,” says the letter written under the headline “Only you can stop Harper!” and featuring a smiling Ramal.

Ramal’s campaign manager said Irene Mathyssen, the riding’s three-term NDP MP seeking re-election, has been “wishy-washy” about the fate of the contract if the NDP were to win power.

“He’s not telling the truth,” Mathyssen fired back Friday. “I said very distinctly, in no way wishy-washy, that this is a signed contract and that we are going to be honouring the contract.”

The Liberals and NDP swore allegiance to the $15 billion arms sale to the Saudi murderers. Smiling. Not wishy-washy.

These people need to be excluded from wherever decent people gather.

Fri, 2016-01-08 00:21

#75

voice of the damned

swallow wrote:

voice of the damned wrote:
I think I agree with allowing the arms deal to stand. The contracts had already been signed, and the workers and their union had every reason to expect the job to go forward. You should't fuck around with peoples' livelihoods.

Just with peoples' lives?

There's every possibility that these armoured vehicles will be used to kill people, after all.

Well, I guess an arms-deal is a little different than just regular invenstment, which doesn't kill anyone directly. So, sure, cancel the deal. Though I'd be pretty stringent about demanding compensation for anyone who is having to forfeit money as a result of the cancellation.

Fri, 2016-01-08 00:30

#76

voice of the damned

iyraste1313 wrote:

TEHRAN (FNA)- A prominent Syrian dissident leader says Israel has persuaded the Riyadh government to kill prominent Saudi Muslim cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr.

“It is clear that the Saudis had taken order from their masters in Tel Aviv and the US to commit the crime of executing Sheikh Nimr; therefore, it is not surprising to say that the decision to execute Sheikh Nimr was taken in Tel Aviv and confirmed in Washington,” Secretary-General of al-Talia opposition party Noufal Noufal told FNA on Wednesday.

He said that the al-Saud has always been a tool in the US hands to implement its plots in the region....

...perhaps this thread title should be expanded to include al-Saud´s partners in crime?

...if of course this dissident´s analysis is correct and if of course we as intellectuals are to be in respect of the laws of complicity.....

I think pretty much everyone reading this thread knows that the KSA is a western client state. But the FNA article goes a bit beyond that, and states that western governments explicity gave the orders to kill Sheikh Nimr.

Not that I care about protecting the pristine reputations of Israel and the US, but for our own credibility, it's a good idea not to make claims that aren't backed up by solid evidece. And I don't see any such evidence in the FNA article.

Given that Saudi Arabia has a whole history of repressing Shiites and killing dissidents, it doesn't take too much imagination to suppose that they figured killing one more wouldn't be a big deal.

Fri, 2016-01-08 05:37

#77

NDPP

[Canada,] US, UK Complicit in Saudi War Crimes in Yemen (and vid)

http://presstv.com/Detail/2016/01/08/444989/Saudi-Arabia-Yemen-US-UK-Cri...

"Press TV has conducted an interview with Massoud Shadjareh, head of the Islamic Human Rights Commission from Tehran, on a report by Human Rights Watch that says Saudi Arabia is dropping [US] cluster bombs on the Yemeni people.

'The reality is that not only the Saudi government and its allies need to be held responsible but also all those who are providing the weapons to Saudi Arabia and enabling it to commit war crimes.

So really it needs to be grassroots and there needs to be an awakening that this terrorist state, I'm not saying this lightly, it is a terrorist state committing atrocities and war crimes left, right and center, needs to be controlled and dealt with..."

US-Made Cluster Bombs Used by Saudi-Led Coalition in Yemen Attacks - HRW

https://www.rt.com/news/328190-yemen-saudi-cluster-bombs/

"Cluster munitions sold to Saudi Arabia by the US were used in attacks on residential neighborhoods in Yemen's capital of Sanaa, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said, calling for an international inquiry into the alleged war crime.

'The coalition's repeated use of cluster bombs in the middle of a crowded city suggests an intent to harm civilians, which is a war crime,' HRW Arms Director Steve Goose said, adding that these attacks are 'outrageous."

Fri, 2016-01-08 06:03

#78

NDPP

Ottawa Keeps Analysis of Saudi Human Rights Record Under Wraps

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-keeps-analysis-of-sa...

"The Liberal government is refusing to make public a recently completed assessment of the state of human rights in Saudi Arabia even as it endures criticism for proceeding with a $15 billion deal to ship weaponized armoured vehicles to the Mideast country.

A country's human rights record is an important consideration in the arms export control process that determines whether Canadian-made weapons can be exported there. The Saudi deal was brokered by Ottawa, which also serves as the prime contractor in the transaction.

Amnesty International called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's new government to be transparent with Canadians and explain how this deal passes the arms export regime test..."

Not 'real change' but big bucks. Saudi blood-money is clearly the primary concern. Canadians must step up and demand an immediate end to any further military assistance or cooperation with the Saudi regime.

[email protected]

Fri, 2016-01-08 13:34

#79

NDPP

Saudi Execution Sword Takes Swipe at Washington

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article43883.htm

"...The real objective for Saudi Arabia is more likely to embroil its political patron in Washington in a sharper regional conflict - a conflict that would also lead to a conflagration with Russia.

The next grim step to watch for is whether the Saudis proceed with the execution of Nimr's nephew Ali Mohammed al Nimr. Ali Mohammed could be executed any day, his particular sentence involving gruesome crucifixion. That would be sure to explode regional tensions among Shiite Muslims..."

Fri, 2016-01-08 17:21

#80

NDPP

'Sunni Ways': Trudeau Green-Lights Saudi Arms Deal as Human Rights Abuses Continue Apace - by John Baglow

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/j-baglow/2016/01/sunni-ways-trudeau-gree...

"Saudi Arabia is one of the worst human rights violators on the planet. It's a bloodthirsty, medieval theocracy where torture, floggings and beheadings are routine. But Saudi Arabia is the darling of the West.

Now Canada, with the able assistance of Justin Trudeau and his predecessor, will be blessing this gang of anthropophagi with a vast fleet of Light Armoured Vehicles, already beta-tested on the hapless Shi'ite population of Bahrain..."

CrossTalk: Saudi Trajectory (and vid)

https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/328254-saudi-arabia-foreign-policy/

"Saudi Arabia is on the move and in a hurry. Dissent at home is absolutely forbidden, and its foreign policy is active on multiple fronts..."

Sat, 2016-01-09 15:07

#81

NDPP

'Sputnik' With George Galloway (ep 106)

https://youtu.be/M4HGzFVWetE

Are we on the brink of war between Saudi Arabia and Iran? Sami Ramadani, an Iraqi born political activist and expert on the region comes aboard Sputnik to discuss the proxy wars being fought between these two regional giants. (12:25)

Sat, 2016-01-09 15:31

#82

iyraste1313

"Now Canada, with the able assistance of Justin Trudeau and his predecessor, will be blessing this gang of anthropophagi with a vast fleet of Light Armoured Vehicles, already beta-tested on the hapless Shi'ite population of Bahrain..."

This of course demands the most intensive action vs. not just the government but its allied political partners in international crime!

Not surprising, recognizing that Canada is a total captive of the corporate and bankster criminals........

somehow this entire corporate government system must be discreditted and charged!

I have only access to the OAS Human Rights Tribunal and Commission...perhaps some here have access to such legal minds as Chris Black, to help develop legal strategy.......

Sun, 2016-01-10 05:52

#83

NDPP

Britain Faces Legal Action Over Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia

http://presstv.com/Detail/2016/01/09/445184/uk-saudi-arabia-arms-sales-l...

"The British government faces legal action over refusal to halt the issuing of weapons export licenses to Saudi Arabia amid widespread censure of the kingdom's human rights violations and its actions in Yemen..."

Sun, 2016-01-10 13:14

#84

NDPP

Four Killed As Saudi Jets Bomb MSF in Northern Yemen

http://presstv.com/Detail/2016/01/10/445261/Yemen-Saudi-warplanes-MSF-Ra...

"New Saudi airstrikes have struck a health center operated by Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French abbreviation MSF, in northern Yemen. The medical charity group has denounced the attacks as a 'violation of international law.'

MSF also denounced the previous air raids targeting its centers as deliberate; it said the assaults were conducted even as the Saudi military had been notified of the coordinates of the facility."

Mon, 2016-01-11 16:27

#85

NDPP

Canadian Weapons Enroute to Saudi Arabia

https://youtu.be/B_iU2W9qpCk

"The Canadian government is supplying weapons to the government of Saudi Arabia during a time when Saudi human rights records are at an all time low."

Britain's Sale of Arms to Saudi Arabia Violates International Law - Lawyers [Not Canada's ?!]

https://www.rt.com/uk/328525-saudi-arms-international-law/

"In the face of mounting evidence that Saudi forces are breaching international law in Yemen, law firm Leigh Day has challenged the government's export of missiles and other arms to the Gulf state.

A letter issued by the firm to the government on Sunday highlights global organizations that have branded Saudi airstrikes in Yemen illegal. Among these are the European Parliament (EP) and an array of prominent human rights groups that have been monitoring Saudi Arabia's attacks on Yemen.

'We have given govt 14 days notice that unless they suspend arms licences to Saudi then they will face legal action...'

Leigh Day called on the government to confirm whether or not it accepts there is concrete evidence that Saudi Arabia's conduct in Yemen has breached international law. It also urged the government to verify if Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) Sayid Javid will suspend Britain's sale of arms to Saudi Arabia until a full review of their legality is carried out..."

CrossTalk on Middle East; Russia's Strategy

https://youtu.be/WaOotwJQFSE

"With Saudi Arabia upping the ante with sectarian escalation, where does the Syrian conflict stand? Washington's neocons [Canada's Liberals] and Riyadh's Wahhabi royals again share a common cause."

Mon, 2016-01-11 18:08

#86

NDPP

Trudeau, Harper, Saudi Arabia and 'Real Change' (TM)

http://www.thealfalfafield.com/2016/01/trudeau-harper-saudi-arabia-and-r...

"...These two Globe articles, written nearly a year apart, are so stunningly similar that, if quoted such that the names and party affiliations of the government officials and the specifics of the Saudi atrocities are omitted, you could swap out last year's for this year's and no one would notice the difference.

So for all the folks who naively bought into Trudeau's promises of 'Sunny ways' and 'real change' and transparency - this is what you voted for. This complete and total continuation of the Harper Conservative foreign policy, this complete unwillingness to be transparent, this utter interchangeability with the government you worked so hard to defeat."

Thu, 2016-01-14 12:01

#87

NDPP

How Justin Trudeau Could Help Remake Middle East Politics - by Matthew Behrens

https://nowtoronto.com/news/how-justin-trudeau-could-help-remake-middle-...

"The prime minister could nix the Saudi arms deal, but Parliament won't pressure him to cancel and lose Canadian jobs."

Since when has parliament given a fig about Canadian job loss?

Thu, 2016-01-14 12:30

#88

voice of the damned

NDPP wrote:
Since when has parliament given a fig about Canadian job loss?

When they can be directly blamed for the job-loss.

This isn't like the Liberals passing NAFTA, and then some CEO takes advantages of its provisions to move his factory from Ontario to Mexico. Rightly or wrongly, most people are gonna see that as a decision made by the CEO, even if it was a trade-agreement(passed twenty years ago) that gave him the right to do that.

But if the Saudi arms-deal gets cancelled, it won't just be the govenment passively allowing General Dynamics to do whatever. It would be the government directly intervening to reverse what was perceived as a done-deal. A deal, let's not forget, that the govrnment itself had helped negotiate, and which the Liberals had promised to let stand.

Thu, 2016-01-14 13:44

#89

NDPP

Here's to their crushing between the contradictions...

Former Liberal Minister Calls For Review of Saudi Arms Deal

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/former-liberal-minister-calls-for-re...

"A prominent former Liberal foreign minister is calling on Justin Trudeau's government to review a controversial $15-billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, saying he doesn't think Canada should be deepening relations with a Mideast country notorious for human rights abuses. [except for Israel]

Lloyd Axworthy, who served as foreign minister between 1996 and 2000 under prime minister Jean Chretien, remains influential in Liberal circles..."

Thu, 2016-01-14 13:54

#90

voice of the damned

NDPP wrote:

Here's to their crushing between the contradictions...

Former Liberal Minister Calls For Review of Saudi Arms Deal

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/former-liberal-minister-calls-for-re...

"A prominent former Liberal foreign minister is calling on Justin Trudeau's government to review a controversial $15-billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, saying he doesn't think Canada should be deepening relations with a Mideast country notorious for human rights abuses. [except for Israel]

Lloyd Axworthy, who served as foreign minister between 1996 and 2000 under prime minister Jean Chretien, remains influential in Liberal circles..."

Well, if he really felt that strongly about it, he could have said something during the campaign, when the Liberals were promising that the deal would go ahead.

And yes yes. I'm not naive. I know full well that politicians usually try to avoid bashing their own party during a campaign. Just as long as we're not kidding ourselves about where Axworthy ranks "moral commitment" in relation to "winning elections".

Thu, 2016-01-14 14:23

#91

NDPP

I agree and suspect his statement is an indication of significant pressure building around this issue, certainly not any moral or ethical consideration.

Fri, 2016-01-15 08:45

#92

swallow

Definitely.

This is from NDP foreign affairs critic Hélène Laverdière's response to my letter - nothing yet from Dion, my MP, or Conservative critic for foreign affairs (who I was astaonished to learn is Tony Clement):

Quote:

Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding human rights and the sale of Canadian-made weapons to Saudi Arabia.

[...]

With regard to the arms deal, New Democrats have long urged greater transparency and accountability when it comes to the international sale of conventional weapons.

Despite well-documented human rights violations, Saudi Arabia is currently the second largest purchaser of Canadian arms. Established Canadian policy guidelines clearly state that Canada will closely control the export of military goods to countries “whose governments have a persistent record of serious violations of the human rights of their citizens, unless it can be demonstrated that there is no reasonable risk that the goods might be used against the civilian population.” Unfortunately, the former Conservative government refused to provide any information about whether such an assessment was done with regard to the deal in question, and the result of the assessment.

It is disconcerting to see the current Liberal government adopt the same approach, after pledging for openness and transparency during the electoral campaign.

The NDP will continue to push for the disclosure of full details on the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia, as well as greater accountability from the Canadian government regarding weapons exports, in general, and the signing of the UN Arms Trade Treaty. We will also continue to speak out against human rights violations in Saudi Arabia, and worldwide.

Thank you again for writing to us.

Sincerely,

Hélène Laverdière

MP for Laurier – Ste-Marie

NDP Critic for Foreign Affairs

Fri, 2016-01-15 10:25

#93

Unionist

Thanks, swallow.

She forgot to mention that the NDP had already promised not to cancel the current $15 billion deal, irrespective of any human rights concerns.

Fri, 2016-01-15 14:17

#94

bekayne

swallow wrote:

Conservative critic for foreign affairs (who I was astaonished to learn is Tony Clement):

Listen, and prepare to be astonished even more:

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-tuesday-edition-1.3400...

Sat, 2016-01-16 15:32

#95

voice of the damned

Trudeau adviser: "They may be SOBs, but they're our SOBs" (Well, not in so many words, but that's the gist of it)

http://tinyurl.com/hq87u4p

Mon, 2016-01-18 18:45

#96

swallow

Quote:

What assurances did the Canadian government seek and receive that the light armoured vehicles produced in London, Ont., would not be used to further punish and imperil Saudi civilians? Were such assurances even sought? So far, we don’t know.

Canada’s contract with Saudi Arabia is perhaps the archetypal deal that the international Arms Trade Treaty was designed to prevent..... Canada remains – along with Saudi Arabia – one of the few countries in the world that has not joined the treaty. But acceding to the ATT was an election campaign pledge of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and is a specific priority of Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion’s mandate. Prompt accession is expected and will be applauded in Canada and beyond.

[url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/canadians-keep-asking-questi... Ploiughshares: keep asking questions about Saudia arms deal[/url]

Tue, 2016-01-19 05:57

#97

NDPP

'He Knew They'd Kill Him in the End': Son of Shia Cleric al Nimr Speaks to RT (and vid)

https://www.rt.com/news/329349-nimr-execution-son-interview/

"Mohammad al-Nimr, the son of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, executed in Saudi Arabia in the beginning of the year, has told RT how his father fought for the rights of 'all the people', while having been allegedly tortured after his arrest by Riyadh..."

Rick Mercer: Justin Trudeau Talking Down To Canadians On Saudi Arms Deal (and vid)

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/01/12/rick-mercer-rant-saudi-arms-deal...

"Rick Mercer is kicking off a new year of rants by taking aim at words Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used back in October to downplay a controversial arms deal with Saudi Arabia.

'I got to hand it to Justin, usually prime ministers are on the job for a few years before they start talking down to Canadians. He's learning so fast..."

Tell Justin: No More Canadian Weapons Sales to Saudi Arabia!

[email protected]

Thu, 2016-01-21 17:17

#98

NDPP

Saudi Arabia in the Hands of Prince Bin Salman (and vid)

http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/01/15/445852/Saudi-Arabia-Yemen-Moham...

"Saudi Arabia is in the hands of young prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has ordered the bombing of Yemen's people and infrastructure, a massacre that has lasted nearly a year.

At the end of 2015, German intelligence agency BND published a remarkable one-and-a-half-page memo saying that Saudi Arabia had adopted 'an impulsive policy of intervention.'.

It portrayed Saudi Defense Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - the powerful 29-year old son of the ageing King Salman, who is suffering from dementia - as a political gambler who is destabilizing the Arab world through wars in Yemen and Syria."

George Galloway analyzes Saudi Arabia with his listeners - MUST HEAR!

Sat, 2016-01-23 10:37

#99

NDPP

Netanyahu: Saudi Arabia Sees Israel As An Ally

http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/01/23/446968/Israel-Iran-Saudi-Arabia...

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Saudi Arabia now sees Tel Aviv 'as an ally rather than as an enemy' as he claims 'a great shift is taking place'..."

They were made for each other

Tue, 2016-01-26 01:29

#100

voice of the damned

Algonquin and Niagra Colleges...

http://tinyurl.com/zaenoee

Tue, 2016-01-26 03:22

#101

lagatta

That is utterly disgusting - would they have backed a whites-only college in apartheid South Africa? And there isn't even an equivalent "black college" for women.

Yes, in terms of investments, it is a sideshow compared to the military stuff, but it can have a great symbolic impact in terms of public outrage.

Boycott / sanction Saudi Arabia!

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