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So; "as there is evil in the world, we might as well be the ones to profit from it?" and our enlightened values will rub off on them at the same time and magically make them better people?
Fair enough if you can stop the oil smuggling with bombs, but it begs the question, if the US, France and Russia haven't managed it so far, what are we going to add to the mix?
branwen-
So; "as there is evil in the world, we might as well be the ones to profit from it?" and our enlightened values will rub off on them at the same time and magically make them better people?
Er, no. More like, they're cunts but at least they're working with us (to an extent).
Again, I get the impression you're looking at Saudi Arabia as if it isn't a powerful state in its own right. They'll do what they want, all we can do is try to influence them.
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greenhell in 3...2...1...
h2o
BRM
Contrast
Re Saudi Arabia - you think we're the only people they can buy weapons from? Part of the reason we sell stuff to them is to try to keep them closer to our side. It's grubby and corrupt but it is what it is. Unilaterally declaring ourselves above that sort of thing will only result in them going and getting the same kit from someone else, and that someone else will try to use the relationship to their advantage.
Also, I'm unaware of any Western kit getting into Daesh hands through Saudi. Quite a lot of it got into their hands when they overran big chunks of Iraq, though.