Just Another Blog
Saturday, April 27, 2002
 
Americans in Arabia

Laughing Hyena has a relative living in Arabia. Here's his report:
My four days of work and a morning of shopping in the local Saudi community have evidenced no overt anti-American sentiment. Other Americans who work with younger, lower job category Saudis tell me the hatred is "out there", boiling just below the surface. Most of our compatriots here feel that GWB is going to invade Iraq, but probably not until December or early next year. We will be very glad to be gone by then. Of equal concern is Aramco's (and by extension, Saudi Arabia's) viability: the incredible culture of entitlement, waste, inefficiency, graft, and disunity will certainly bring the whole enterprise down within two years unless something drastic happens. So certain do I feel about the implosion of this country that I would be willing to put money on it; I just wish I were investment-savvy enough to know how to profit by anticipating a reduction in the flow of Middle East oil! I feel so sorry for those good Saudis who work hard and want nothing more than to do their best for their families!

Meanwhile, our only remaining close friends the Hintermaiers have announced they will be leaving as early as next month. There is definitely a new feeling about this place--both ominous and spookily less "Western". I don't feel an immediate threat, but I can't blow it off as my imagination. So we will both move with "deliberate haste" to get our affairs in order for an Octoberish departure. We can't wait!