This is a country we call an allie..

[crockett]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7096814.stm

Gotta love the double standards we have when picking out allies.

[1K3]

we only have allies for strategic purposes

[FBplmmr]

Islamic law and their attitude t words women is in my opinion deplorable.

Perhaps when we all ride bicycles to work, and tanks and airplanes run on fairy dust, we can be more selective of who we  ally or maintain diplomatic relations with.

[DREDIOCK]

While I in no way agree with Islamic law.
Perhaps to play devils advocate for a moment.

It is THEIR laws.

"But the victim was also punished for violating Saudi Arabia's laws on segregation that forbid unrelated men and women from associating with each other. She was initially sentenced to 90 lashes for being in the car of a strange man.

The rapists also had their prison terms doubled. But the sentences are still low considering they could have faced the death penalty."

We complain of their intolerence
While ourselves being guilty if intolerence in insisting they, or condemning then for not adhereing to our standards.

She knew what the law was. She broke it and was punished according to THEIR law and culture. Not ours

Now we, you and I may find it appaling.
But we also live in a completely different culture
With a completely different mindset.

[lazs2]

what standards should we use when picking our allies?

lazs

[MiloMorai]

She was also from the Shia minority while the rapists were Sunni.

[Neubob]

I think the Saudis, in their current position, are a bigger liability to us than most everyone else.

[JBA]

Originally posted by crockett
[Gotta love the double standards we have when picking out allies.

ya got to hate those Russians for helping us in WWII.

[Eagler]

every country can't be as perfect as America

[Neubob]

Originally posted by JBA
ya got to hate those Russians for helping us in WWII.

I know you're just trying to draw a loose parallel, but come on...

The Russians fought and died, not so much for the alliance as for their own survival. They gave up more than most can imagine, and earned the respect they got--or failed to get. Much of their population, not to mention landscape, was forever altered in those few years.

When have the Saudis been up against the wall like that, and when did they sacrifice and commit themselves in a comparable manner? Allowing the US to stage an invasion from their soil and making a token effort to assist in what was already such a lopsided fight hardly counts.

[Whisky58]

200 lashes......

In the good old days when Britain ruled the waves, Nelson pwnd the French and flogging was a common form of punishment in the RN, 100 lashes was often fatal IIRC - and these were hard naval types, not 19 year old girls.

Beggars belief.

[SkyRock]

Religous law is for morons!

[Rino]

Originally posted by SkyRock
Religous law is for morons!

Not so much the law as the interpretation of it by your morons.  Let's face it,
most religion is meant to be very moral.

[SaburoS]

Originally posted by Neubob
I think the Saudis, in their current position, are a bigger liability to us than most everyone else.

Absolutely. Of all our allies, they really do come closest to hating us. 75% of the 9/11 terrorists were from Saudi Arabia. I do believe all of the 9/11 terrorists were Sunni.

I do not want anyone to take this out of context though. Between the Sunni or Shia, the Shia generally have a more benevolent atmosphere towards their women.

Here are some images of Iran that I found.

[Eagler]

Originally posted by SaburoS
Here are some images of Iran that I found.

Here is an image of Iran if they continue down the road they are on with Israel