Westminster Abbey 'respect' for late King of Saudi Arabia
 

Am I being unreasonable to find it distasteful that Westminster Abbey are flying their flag at half mast out of respect for the late King of Saudi Arabia?

Wahhabism and the brutal subjugation of all opposition to it in Saudi Arabia instigated by this man and those around him isn't really something that merits respect in my opinion.

It seems entirely inappropriate for our institutions to show any kind of respect for this, unless Westminster Abbey are trying to cut an oil deal of some kind.

Re: Westminster Abbey 'respect' for late King of Saudi Arabia
 

No you're not being unreasonable at all.

Despicable country and regime that should have been brought to heel long ago if our own hypocrisy in the West couldn't see past the obvious benefits of our "friends" with benefits.

You would have to pay me an awful lot of money to set foot anywhere near the place.

Re: Westminster Abbey 'respect' for late King of Saudi Arabia
 

Westminster Abbey is part of the institution of the Church of England, which is an institution of the State. I suspect you and I agree that that should not be the case, though perhaps for slightly different reasons.

Nevertheless, we are where we are, and Abdullah was Head of State of a strategic ally. Diplomacy. :shrug:

Re: Westminster Abbey 'respect' for late King of Saudi Arabia
 

Unfortunately we have to sup with the devils. I hope they remember to use a long spoon.

With Al Qaeda on one side and ISIS on the other the Saudies are the only bulwark in the region. Unless we want to see the whole lot become the Muslim Caliphate that some seem to relish we have to support them however distasteful that is.

Re: Westminster Abbey 'respect' for late King of Saudi Arabia
 

Apparently he was something of reformist.

He made the Saudi Princes pay for their own phone bills!! Come on, respect where it's due.

Re: Westminster Abbey 'respect' for late King of Saudi Arabia
 

Apparently also a close ally in the war against terror.

Shame they spend a ton of cash promoting Islamism and Wahhabism throughout the world really.

They are a valuable partner and close ally because they sell us oil and buy our weapons, nothing more. That our government and institutions dropped to their knees and fellated Saudi Arabia over the past day makes an absolute mockery of any attempts we may make to take the moral high ground over Islamic terrorism. High grade sycophancy that, frankly, makes me ashamed to be British and makes us look cynical, opportunistic and pathetic.

I've generally been fairly indifferent to the monarchy but Prince Charles jetting off to Saudi Arabia makes me feel considerably more republican.