Category Archives: Saudi Arabia

One Hundred Years Ago, Lawrence of Arabia killed the Railroad – March 1923: Transjordan

Posted on 2023-03-25 by Andreas Moser

Zur deutschen Fassung. Not quite a hundred, but still more than thirty years ago, I was in Australia as an exchange student. I don’t think I have ever told stories from that time, because back then, we still took pictures … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Iran, Islam, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Technology, Travel, UK, World War I | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Arms exports to Saudi Arabia

Posted on 2019-03-25 by Andreas Moser

I used to be skeptical about arms exports to Saudi Arabia. But then I learned that the weapons are mostly used to celebrate weddings:

Posted in Military, Politics, Saudi Arabia | Tagged | Leave a comment

Random Thoughts (24)

Posted on 2019-03-08 by Andreas Moser

Good news: the days are getting longer. Unless you live in the Southern hemisphere, then you are doomed to darkness. And unless you live on the equator, in which case you are missing out on something fabulous. My sister asked … Continue reading →

Posted in Austria, Books, Brazil, Canada, Economics, Germany, Iran, Language, Politics, Religion, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Travel, UK, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Random Thoughts (14)

Posted on 2017-06-02 by Andreas Moser

If I am ever on a quiz show, my telephone joker will be the dude who wrote Wikipedia. Suki Kim has done impressive undercover reporting in North Korea, fooling both her employer, by pretending that she was a devout Christian, and of course the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bolivia, Books, China, Colombia, Economics, Language, Life, Mexico, North Korea, Religion, Saudi Arabia, Technology, Travel, UK | Tagged , , , , , | 19 Comments

Modern Mecca

Posted on 2015-09-24 by Andreas Moser

Is it still the Kaaba (the black box in the arena) which is supposed to be the holiest site in the world, or has Mecca just become another place to worship dollars and riyals (and a copy of Big Ben)?

Posted in Economics, Islam, Religion, Saudi Arabia | Tagged , | 6 Comments

What do we need ISIS for?

Posted on 2014-09-20 by Andreas Moser

After all, we already have Saudi Arabia: (Auf Deutsch.)

Posted in Human Rights, Islam, Law, Saudi Arabia, Terrorism | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Easily Confused (40) Beheadings

Posted on 2014-08-29 by Andreas Moser

People whom we call “barbaric” and “monsters” when they cut somebody’s head off: ISIS, IS, Al-Qaeda. People whom we do business with when they cut somebody’s head off: Saudi Arabia.

Posted in Economics, Human Rights, Law, Politics, Saudi Arabia, Terrorism | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Women, you are allowed to vote. – For me. If at all.

Posted on 2011-09-27 by Andreas Moser

Last weekend, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has announced that women might in future be allowed to stand as candidates in municipal elections and “will even have a right to vote”. Among women’s rights activists, excitement and optimism have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Law, Politics, Saudi Arabia | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

WikiLeaks and Israel

Posted on 2010-12-01 by Andreas Moser

When WikiLeaks announced last week that it would release hitherto secret communication between the US State Department and US embassies around the world, the levels of curiosity and anxiety were equally high. Overall though, the revelations might have bruised some … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt, Iran, Israel, Military, Politics, Saudi Arabia | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments