Saudi King Abdullah dead - state TV

Blackleaf

Blackleaf

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 9, 2004
49,956
1,910
113
MHz said:
Totally free with international inspectors
Click to expand...

It was widely reported that the Syrian presidential elections of 2014 lacked independent election monitoring. The Gulf Cooperation Council, the European Union and the United States all dismissed the election as illegitimate. The vote did not take place in large parts of Syria under rebel control.The areas under Kurdish militia control also did not allow voting.


something we don't allow in North America and I have to assume the UK is the same.
Click to expand...

In recent years that have been an increasing number of observers monitoring elections in countries such as Britain, France, Switzerland and the US.
 
Tecumsehsbones

Tecumsehsbones

Hall of Fame Member
Mar 18, 2013
60,673
9,668
113
Washington DC
Leroy est mort. Vive Leroy.



 
Colpy

Colpy

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 5, 2005
21,887
848
113
70
Saint John, N.B.
Queen Elizabeth II once terrorized King Abdullah — by driving him around






The death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has brought considerable debate over whether he should be remembered as a "reformer" or the very opposite of one; whether his legacy will be that he preserved Saudi Arabia's future or limited its present.
But as this story from a former British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia makes clear, there is one thing he will never be: as much of a stone-cold badass as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles was given a private audience with the Queen when he was appointed Ambassador to Saudi Arabia in 2003. At the time, Abdullah was technically still the crown prince, though he'd been de facto ruler for several years. During their meeting, she gleefully recounted the story of Abdullah's first visit to Balmoral, her castle in Scotland. It all started innocently enough, with an offer to tour the estate:
After lunch, the Queen had asked her royal guest whether he would like a tour of the estate. Prompted by his foreign minister the urbane Prince Saud, an initially hesitant Abdullah had agreed. The royal Land Rovers were drawn up in front of the castle. As instructed, the Crown Prince climbed into the front seat of the front Land Rover, his interpreter in the seat behind.
​
But then, a surprising twist! The Queen herself was Abdullah's driver:
To his surprise, the Queen climbed into the driving seat, turned the ignition and drove off. Women are not — yet — allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, and Abdullah was not used to being driven by a woman, let alone a queen.
​
And she wasn't just driving, she was DRIVING, leaving Abdullah a quivering wreck:
His nervousness only increased as the Queen, an Army driver in wartime, accelerated the Land Rover along the narrow Scottish estate roads, talking all the time. Through his interpreter, the Crown Prince implored the Queen to slow down and concentrate on the road ahead.
​
That's right: Queen Elizabeth basically spent an afternoon using her military-grade driving skills to haze the crown prince of Saudi Arabia.
Result: Elizabeth 1, Abdullah 0.


Queen Elizabeth II once terrorized King Abdullah — by driving him around - Vox

Go ahead....try and convince me she didn't do that on purpose. :)
 
Spade

Spade

Ace Poster
Nov 18, 2008
12,822
49
48
11
Aether Island
Abdullah had over eleven wives and had close relations with Britain and the US. Perky for a ninety-year old. I guess the gods will have to whump up another seventy-two virgins.

Colpy said:
Queen Elizabeth II once terrorized King Abdullah — by driving him around
Go ahead....try and convince me she didn't do that on purpose. :)
Click to expand...

So German of her!
 
MHz

MHz

Time Out
Mar 16, 2007
41,030
43
48
Red Deer AB
Colpy said:
Queen Elizabeth II once terrorized King Abdullah — by driving him around



Click to expand...
You only ever get out of the same side of the bed don't you? Repeat after me, head scarves have nothing to do with covering the hair of a woman and the Queen owning 11teen thousand of them has nothing to do with respecting religious traditions of 'subjects in her kingdom'.
 
Twila

Twila

Nanah Potato
Mar 26, 2003
14,698
73
48
Colpy said:
Queen Elizabeth II once terrorized King Abdullah — by driving him around






The death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has brought considerable debate over whether he should be remembered as a "reformer" or the very opposite of one; whether his legacy will be that he preserved Saudi Arabia's future or limited its present.
But as this story from a former British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia makes clear, there is one thing he will never be: as much of a stone-cold badass as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles was given a private audience with the Queen when he was appointed Ambassador to Saudi Arabia in 2003. At the time, Abdullah was technically still the crown prince, though he'd been de facto ruler for several years. During their meeting, she gleefully recounted the story of Abdullah's first visit to Balmoral, her castle in Scotland. It all started innocently enough, with an offer to tour the estate:
After lunch, the Queen had asked her royal guest whether he would like a tour of the estate. Prompted by his foreign minister the urbane Prince Saud, an initially hesitant Abdullah had agreed. The royal Land Rovers were drawn up in front of the castle. As instructed, the Crown Prince climbed into the front seat of the front Land Rover, his interpreter in the seat behind.
​
But then, a surprising twist! The Queen herself was Abdullah's driver:
To his surprise, the Queen climbed into the driving seat, turned the ignition and drove off. Women are not — yet — allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, and Abdullah was not used to being driven by a woman, let alone a queen.
​
And she wasn't just driving, she was DRIVING, leaving Abdullah a quivering wreck:
His nervousness only increased as the Queen, an Army driver in wartime, accelerated the Land Rover along the narrow Scottish estate roads, talking all the time. Through his interpreter, the Crown Prince implored the Queen to slow down and concentrate on the road ahead.
​
That's right: Queen Elizabeth basically spent an afternoon using her military-grade driving skills to haze the crown prince of Saudi Arabia.
Result: Elizabeth 1, Abdullah 0.


Queen Elizabeth II once terrorized King Abdullah — by driving him around - Vox

Go ahead....try and convince me she didn't do that on purpose. :)
Click to expand...


this is an awesome story. Made my day a little happier.
 
Colpy

Colpy

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 5, 2005
21,887
848
113
70
Saint John, N.B.
MHz said:
You only ever get out of the same side of the bed don't you? Repeat after me, head scarves have nothing to do with covering the hair of a woman and the Queen owning 11teen thousand of them has nothing to do with respecting religious traditions of 'subjects in her kingdom'.
Click to expand...

Geezus.

Please....seek help.
 
MHz

MHz

Time Out
Mar 16, 2007
41,030
43
48
Red Deer AB
Twila said:
imaginary things do not have street addresses. They have a mental address.
Click to expand...
The meaning was 'nobody seeems to want to end up there no matter if their actions would result in war crimes charges', hope that clears up any confusion.
 
Spade

Spade

Ace Poster
Nov 18, 2008
12,822
49
48
11
Aether Island
Twila said:
I'm not sure my mind is able to wrap itself around this. Could you provide some detail on who might feel the mental cruelty?
Click to expand...

Even here in this peaceable kingdom, the mere mention of the International Criminal Court in the Hague gives some the quivvers.

Remember Arbour days here in Canada?

PS
On a more cheerfull note, "King Abdullah" is an anagram for "A big dull khan"
PPS
Correct me if I err, didn't Goober insist passing-on threads be somewhat respectful, regardless how difficult?
 
darkbeaver

darkbeaver

the universe is electric
Jan 26, 2006
41,035
201
63
RR1 Distopia 666 Discordia
He was a great friend of the west and a staunch advocate of human rights we feel the deepest regret at his passing and offer our condolences to his loving subjects. I read his replacement, Prince Ali Bin Charming suffers from dementia.
 
MHz

MHz

Time Out
Mar 16, 2007
41,030
43
48
Red Deer AB
'beloved subjects' would get you a 1.3% higher approval rating. Just sayin . . . if you are already spreading it, thicker doesn't hurt the objective.
 
Twila

Twila

Nanah Potato
Mar 26, 2003
14,698
73
48
darkbeaver said:
He was a great friend of the west and a staunch advocate of human rights we feel the deepest regret at his passing and offer our condolences to his loving subjects. I read his replacement, Prince Ali Bin Charming suffers from dementia.
Click to expand...

Whoa! You could write political speeches! that's a most respectful bit of propoganda. Well done!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom