Saudi Arabia Electronically Tracks Any Cross-Border Movement of Women

[Crazed Rabbit]

Modern day slavery, and they are our 'allies' in the region.

RIYADH — Denied the right to travel without consent from their male guardians and banned from driving, women in Saudi Arabia are now monitored by an electronic system that tracks any cross-border movements.
Since last week, Saudi women's male guardians began receiving text messages on their phones informing them when women under their custody leave the country, even if they are travelling together.
Manal al-Sherif, who became the symbol of a campaign launched last year urging Saudi women to defy a driving ban, began spreading the information on Twitter, after she was alerted by a couple.
The husband, who was travelling with his wife, received a text message from the immigration authorities informing him that his wife had left the international airport in Riyadh.
"The authorities are using technology to monitor women," said columnist Badriya al-Bishr, who criticised the "state of slavery under which women are held" in the ultra-conservative kingdom.
Women are not allowed to leave the kingdom without permission from their male guardian, who must give his consent by signing what is known as the "yellow sheet" at the airport or border.

Why don't we slap some sanctions on them?

CR

[Kadagar_AV]

Modern day slavery, and they are our 'allies' in the region.



Why don't we slap some sanctions on them?

CR

Answer in short: Because you are more interested in making money than doing good.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Oh, we can still get their oil without being their allies. It's not like we even buy a lot from them anyway. But we don't have to sell them weapons.

Anyways, what do you guys think we 1) can do 2) should do.

CR

[rory_20_uk]

1) Nothing
2) Nothing.

When did what other countries do become our major concern? There are enough problems in the UK without looking abroad for more. We've done the "Make the world British" thing and it proved unpopular. The natives are welcome to dwell in their own self-inflicted hell-holes.

[Kadagar_AV]

1) Nothing
2) Nothing.

When did what other countries do become our major concern? There are enough problems in the UK without looking abroad for more. We've done the "Make the world British" thing and it proved unpopular. The natives are welcome to dwell in their own self-inflicted hell-holes.

It's kind of hard to choke someone while simultaneously clapping him on the back while laughing. But if I could, I would ;)

[Fragony]

Incredibly sick, but I agree with Rory. It's not our business.

[Sarmatian]

Instead of "the leader isn't on our side", this kind of thing is a legitimate reason to impose sanctions.

[rory_20_uk]

The US is set to overtake Saudi Arabia (and indeed everyone else) as the world's leading producer of Oil in the year 2020. Then we can say screw em.

You can say screw 'em. By then they'll be exporting most of their oil to China, and will be able to purchase pretty good military hardware from China as well (probably not as good as American, but a closing gap - especially if the Saudis don't get the latest stuff), and China will be producing most goods. There would be a reducing amount that the USA could realistically do that the Saudis would care about.

[Montmorency]

The US is set to overtake Saudi Arabia (and indeed everyone else) as the world's leading producer of Oil in the year 2020. Then we can say screw em.

It's not just about oil. Although the US track to energy independence will certainly signal a shift in the dynamic of the relationship in our favor, we will never loosen our ties with this major regional military power as long as we perceive a threat in Iran. Indeed, if Egypt or other parts of North Africa (or even Turkey) should ever turn against us through their popular will, you can be sure of seeing a tightening of US-Saudi ties.

They're simply a useful associate to have in the region.

Another element to it: it's in Israel's interest to have Saudi Arabia friendly, or at least indifferent, to it. Keeping SA autocratic, and following America's line, is what Israel wants - and what Israel wants...

[Papewaio]

Allies?

Al Qaeda was lead, financed and has active members from where?

Where did the vast majority of the 9/11 attackers come from?

Instead the country that was invaded after Afghanistan was the one that was against the members of Al Qaeda not the ones supporting it.

[Greyblades]

Allies?

Al Qaeda was lead, financed and has active members from where?

The answer once upon a time to the first 2 questions was America.

[Hax]

While I used to suppor that idea, it's a bit too simplistic.

Yes, the U.S. government supported the mujahideen in Afghanistan, some of which would later go on to "found" al-Qaeda. There's a difference between the two, though.

[Greyblades]

Differet name, different target, same dipwits.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

While I used to suppor that idea, it's a bit too simplistic.

Yes, the U.S. government supported the mujahideen in Afghanistan, some of which would later go on to "found" al-Qaeda. There's a difference between the two, though.

True - but statistically the most modern terrorists come from the UK, many are even born here.

So... yeah.

[Myth]

How do they track them? Have they perhaps implanted their womenfolk with microchips?

[Tellos Athenaios]

They already have a form that must be filled out. Probably contains a phone number, and border/airport officials now text the phone number on the form with a message when the bearer of the form leaves the country

Given Saudi Arabia's geography this sort of system would work effectively as crossing borders and ending up somewhere meaningful on the other side is not easy...

And yeah, this does absolutely nothing for the idea of "Saudi Arabia such a wonderful ally to have".

[Fragony]

Ah well, it isn't like they aren't building homes with the ultra-extra extra of having females seperated at all times with taxmoney and a hord of yes-nodding lefties.

[Husar]

I think it's wonderful that they care about their women so much!

[Vladimir]

I think it's wonderful that they care about their women so much!

That's likely not too far away from how they think about it.

[rvg]

Protection of private property is a cornerstone of any modern state. I salute the Saudi authorities in their advancement on that front.

[Major Robert Dump]

Insecure men having their little insecure frat party.

Without oil, this place would be another Yemen or Sudan. In fact, when the oil demand goes away, they will be worse than those countries because in Yemen and Sudan people at least know how to work. Saudis don't work, and their only job skills outside of petro trading is auto drifting and abusing their Filipino maids.

[rvg]

Saudis don't work, and their only job skills outside of petro trading is auto drifting and abusing their Filipino maids.

They are also reasonably good at jihading.

[Ironside]

They are also reasonably good at jihading.

Not that big of a market, although plenty of new replacement job spots after they've done something big. Pulling that stuff off is a bit of a career ender. Retirement plans are rumored to be good though.

[The Lurker Below]

Systems like this do not require gov't legislation. The Amish culture in the U.S. is very similiar. Amish men love their lifestyle. The women find themselves working a lot harder. The difference of course is that Amish women do have the opportunity to leave their situation behind. Yet the majority...stay.

Besides, isn't it time somebody else besides the U.S. played world policeman for a while?

[The Lurker Below]

It doesn't require gov't legislation for this kind of lifestyle to be enforced. The Amish in the U.S. have a very similiar arrangement. Amish men love their lifestyle. Amish women work much harder. Of course here Amish women have the option of leaving their community. I wonder how SA women would respond given the same opportunity. The majority of Amish women opt to stay.

Besides, isn't it time for some other country to play world police for a while?