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2004-01-11 Arabia

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Posted by Fred Pruitt 2004-01-11 00:10|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The training would seek to improve the technical skills of the students so that they could replace foreigners in both the military and defense industry.

They could fix their military in a better way if they just instituted shop class in high school, and made every youth take part. Then they'd finally have a class of auto mechanics, sheet metal workers, lathe operators, etc. who could repair military equipment. Those youths would have a more practical view of the world (since if it doesn't work it doesn't matter) and might nudge the Magic Kingdom a space or two towards reality.

Posted by Steve White 2004-1-11 12:24:01 AM|| 2004-1-11 12:24:01 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Sounds like the royals need a new cadre of dependable cannon fodder.

Raise them up good fatima. Yes my lord.

Posted by Lucky 2004-1-11 12:38:32 AM|| 2004-1-11 12:38:32 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 4 years at $70M / year? Heh, that's a good one. If it was that easy, even the Eeeewwww would have a credible military force in their future. They don't. Neither do the Saudis.

A little money and a little time won't undo 14 centuries of stupidity. A professional force takes decades - even in the West where those innate values needed: trust, delegation, initiative, guts, desire, free thought, forgiveness for error, discipline, hard training, espirit de corps, and the myriad other aspects that lead to a kick-ass flexible self-policing self-teaching quick-learning compassionate military force that requires no micro-management. They have several generations to go to even reach the starting line for such a venture. Go ahead, replace the foreigners. Saudi-ize your military to complete your transformation back into Bedu, since the whole infrastructure will revert to desert once accomplished. This be yet another Royal Joke. *golf clap*

Posted by .com 2004-1-11 2:37:24 AM|| 2004-1-11 2:37:24 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 ...Actually, they'll be lucky if they can undo the last forty years. The Army has pretty much consisted of Saudi yoots who literally could NOT get into anything else - the Air Force and to a lesser extent the Navy are considered much more prestigious. The Saudi National Guard - actually the royal family's private army, the rough equivalent of a light armored brigade and almost 100% Bedouin - is really the only military unit the royal family trusts. It will be VERY interesting to see what they come up with.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2004-1-11 10:56:47 AM|| 2004-1-11 10:56:47 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 I could just see a Saudi army - all officers (of course)

Posted by Frank G 2004-1-11 11:12:19 AM|| 2004-1-11 11:12:19 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 are they training them to be suicide bombers,thats what the soddies normally do isn't it,oh no wait perhaps there getting lessons on how to fly commercial aircaft (leaving out the landing training though thats not needed for thier mission.

Posted by Jon Shep 2004-1-11 11:23:46 AM|| 2004-1-11 11:23:46 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 I believe Saudis military guys have traditionally been carefully vetted for political reliability before being hired. I'm not sure giving a bunch of potential al Qaeda recruits military training is such a wonderful idea. Are the Saudis trying to make up for the loss of Afghanistan as an al Qaeda base? (OK, I have a dirty mind - but these guys are truly capable of anything).

Posted by Zhang Fei 2004-1-11 11:57:20 AM|| 2004-1-11 11:57:20 AM|| Front Page Top

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