<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>In diplomacy, a country should be prepared to deal with the chief of a stone age tribe if need be, let alone a monarchy of comparatively recent creation (the kingdom of saudi arabia dates back to 1932 - or maybe 1902 when the Saud dynasty captured Riyadh). Certainly a much younger monarchy than that of the UK or Thailand, let alone Japan whose emperors are reputedly in an unbroken line that connects back to divinity.<br><br>Though I suspect Gurstein's point was more about currently prevailng social attitudes in the KSA - which are, as fahd says, still moot.</div><div><br>--srs (iPad)</div><div><br>On 10-Dec-2012, at 11:47, "Fahd A. Batayneh" <<a href="mailto:fahd.batayneh@gmail.com">fahd.batayneh@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div dir="ltr">Thank you Michael, an good piece of writing overall.<br><br>You say "<i>... or 13th century Saudi Arabia dictating what goes over the Internet or as the term goes, “governing the Internet”</i>". Many do not understand the nature of culturally-driven and religiously-driven nations. Saudi Arabia, the Arab states, and many Asian countries are of this nature. It is best to understand such driving forces before making such claims.<br>
<br>And besides, Isn't this the same country that the USA has tight bonds with? Let us
not forget Aramco (a USA-KSA giant based in the eastern province of KSA)
and the daily chats the Saudi ambassador (Prince Bandar at that
time) and President George Bush Jr used to have over breakfast.... Unless of course the USA likes to deal with "13th century countries".<br><br>Fahd<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, Dec 9, 2012 at 11:30 PM, michael gurstein <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:gurstein@gmail.com" target="_blank">gurstein@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">FWIW<br>
<br>
<a href="http://gurstein.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/whose-hand-off-what-internet-some-r
eflections-on-wcit-2012/" target="_blank">http://gurstein.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/whose-hand-off-what-internet-some-r<br>
eflections-on-wcit-2012/</a><br>
<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br>
MG<br>
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