Shaken expatriates rethink Saudi future

[dArKeR]

Foreign companies in Saudi Arabia are offering to repatriate the families of their staff in the wake of the bloody weekend rampage by militants that left 22 dead, most of them foreigners.

As new clashes between suspected militants and security forces were reported in the west of the country, several Japanese companies joined Shell, the Anglo-Dutch oil giant, in offering to pull relatives out of the kingdom.

One Japanese firm said it may also evacuate its workers, though it was too early to tell whether there would be an exodus. Saudi Arabia relies on six million expatriates to operate its oil and other industries. The vast majority are Asian, with British and American workers numbering around 25 000.

As the hunt for three militants responsible for the attack in Al-Khobar continued, Saudi Arabia's entire Eastern province was placed on red alert. Arab News, the Jeddah-based newspaper, reported on Tuesday that security had been intensified around the cities of Dammam, Al-Khobar, Dhahran, Jubail, Ahsa and Qatif.

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=67264

While flicking the TV channels, I caught 20 seconds of a show yesterday. 'If the terrorists succeed and the westerners leave Saudia Arabia the Saudi oil industry will collapse.'

Is this a little bit of a racist statement? Is it implied that Saudi citizens are too stupid and unable to be educated to run their own oil industry?

Which takes me back 1 month ago when I saw a Genocide show on CSPAN. Had survivors from about 8 countries from Nazi to today. One thing they all agreed on in ones statement. 'Genocide happens when one race feels it is superior to another.'

[daleo]

1. Perhaps they mean the western oil industry will collapse

If all those fat oil profits were being kept in the middle east, by the countries who actually own the oil.

[Tellurian]

2. Oh, I see- The insurgency is the result of Bush's private army...

All those neat little unemployed Iraqi mercenaries thirsting for blood..

Bush is looking to tip the scales on the oil reserves and sit in his office gloating over rising oil prices. cha-ching $$