A lot to comment on. First, I do not share your predilection for the little Gulf autocrats. Their 'nations' are really only disguised tribes with flags. That the former bedouins are filthy rich and prone to love the public school-fostered English snobbery strikes me as not commendable. And support for regimes like the kingdom of Bahrain, which oppresses the majority of its population, is also distasteful. Human rights issues are not quite as irrelevant as you pretend...I see your realpolitik matrix but I do not share it. Second, the idea that a Deform (sic) government would do well with the Gulfies for me is a good an argument against it. Anyway, Rupert Lowe will blow up the chances of Deform, I think. Lastly, I suspect Lawrence of Arabia if alive today would not care much for the Gulf rulers. Rather. he would support the Resistance! Cheers! 😇
Great article, wish I had written it
A lot to comment on. First, I do not share your predilection for the little Gulf autocrats. Their 'nations' are really only disguised tribes with flags. That the former bedouins are filthy rich and prone to love the public school-fostered English snobbery strikes me as not commendable. And support for regimes like the kingdom of Bahrain, which oppresses the majority of its population, is also distasteful. Human rights issues are not quite as irrelevant as you pretend...I see your realpolitik matrix but I do not share it. Second, the idea that a Deform (sic) government would do well with the Gulfies for me is a good an argument against it. Anyway, Rupert Lowe will blow up the chances of Deform, I think. Lastly, I suspect Lawrence of Arabia if alive today would not care much for the Gulf rulers. Rather. he would support the Resistance! Cheers! 😇
Most criticisms of Arab gulf states stem from jealousy of how successful and independent and debt free they are
Frank is an Islamo-leftist crank who sometimes comments here. He can be ignored.
Glad you gave me background so I know who I am talking to
Gulf states are hugely popular amongst non Islamist Arabs
Please call it Arab Gulf for starters