Posts by shepherdless

46

The case of Jamal Khashoggi

by LoveUniHateExams in

just been catching up on the case of jamal khashoggi.. khashoggi was a saudi journalist who 'went missing' on 2 october after visiting the saudi consulate in istanbul.. he visited the consulate in order to get paperwork that confirmed he was divorced from his ex-wife and free to marry his turkish fiancée.. the details that are emerging are harrowing and show just how barbaric the saudi regime is.. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6288131/jamal-khashoggis-apparent-murder-follows-disappearance-three-exiled-royal-princes.html.

these assassins are the kinda people my government (uk) and other western governments are doing business with, propping up, and acting all smiley with in front of the cameras.. i suddenly feel the need to take a shower ....

shepherdless

Morpheus, the bin Ladens are a well known and wealthy family in Saudi Arabia. So what, that they went to school together.

I went to school with someone who turned into a well known conservative politician in my country. In fact my dad and his dad were best friends. I went to Uni with someone who turned into a well known left wing politician, who I also share a family connection. What can you tell from my political views from that? I will give you a hint; zero.

The link you attach doesn't factually contradict anything I have said.

as for the saudi’s, again, as noted before and previously stated, they arnt perfect, but they are anti iran and allies with isreal and that makes their interests good for the rest of the world.

Can you please explain, in your own words, what threat Iran poses? If you are going to argue that they were (under a previous regime) trying to build a nuclear bomb, that is true. And there is an obvious answer.

There are definitely issues with Iran. However, I would love to hear a conservative American (assuming you are one) try and explain and set out what they are.

46

The case of Jamal Khashoggi

by LoveUniHateExams in

just been catching up on the case of jamal khashoggi.. khashoggi was a saudi journalist who 'went missing' on 2 october after visiting the saudi consulate in istanbul.. he visited the consulate in order to get paperwork that confirmed he was divorced from his ex-wife and free to marry his turkish fiancée.. the details that are emerging are harrowing and show just how barbaric the saudi regime is.. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6288131/jamal-khashoggis-apparent-murder-follows-disappearance-three-exiled-royal-princes.html.

these assassins are the kinda people my government (uk) and other western governments are doing business with, propping up, and acting all smiley with in front of the cameras.. i suddenly feel the need to take a shower ....

shepherdless

I wasn't particularly having a go at you, LUHE. Anyway:

I read that Khashoggi's friendship with Bin Laden ended after Khashoggi publicly condemned the 9-11 attacks.

Do you have any evidence of any contact between the two after bin Laden founded Al Qaeda?

I read that Khashoggi joined the Muslim Brotherhood in 1970. When did he leave the organisation?

1970? Sheesh. That is like asking when did someone leave the liberals, the social justice warriors, or the red necks. Where does one fill out a form to leave the Muslim Brotherhood? Where does one fill out a form to leave the red necks.

By the way, when I was in the middle east working with a lot of Arabs, one Arab (never had been to a Western country) told me there was an evil policical organisation he had heard about in the USA, that hate Arab, and they were called "The Red Necks".

More accurately, the Muslim Brotherhood's aim is to use a democratic vote to usher in Sharia, after which there will be no more democratic votes.

Muslim Brotherhood would (consistent with their interpretation of Sharia law) want to establish a Majlis, which is loosely equivalent to a parliament. The democratically elected parliaments in countries such as Iran, Oman and Maldives, for example, are all called a Majlis. (The one in Oman has no real power.)

It's important to state this and distinguish it from groups which genuinely believe in democracy!

I wish it was that simple. Irrespective of religion or political leaning, there are always people who seek power, and are happy to pander to whatever ideological or social appeals may be available to advance their quests for power.

Eg the Ayatollahs got power from the Shah of Iran with massive support of those seeking democracy, and also various communist leaning groups. The Ayatollahs would never have succeeded otherwise. After they got power, they systematically executed the communists.

One thing for certain; MBS doesn't support democracy.

46

The case of Jamal Khashoggi

by LoveUniHateExams in

just been catching up on the case of jamal khashoggi.. khashoggi was a saudi journalist who 'went missing' on 2 october after visiting the saudi consulate in istanbul.. he visited the consulate in order to get paperwork that confirmed he was divorced from his ex-wife and free to marry his turkish fiancée.. the details that are emerging are harrowing and show just how barbaric the saudi regime is.. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6288131/jamal-khashoggis-apparent-murder-follows-disappearance-three-exiled-royal-princes.html.

these assassins are the kinda people my government (uk) and other western governments are doing business with, propping up, and acting all smiley with in front of the cameras.. i suddenly feel the need to take a shower ....

shepherdless

There is a suggestion in the thread above that Khashoggi was a friend of bin Laden. It appears he was in the 1980s. Khashoggi interviewed bin Laden in in Afghanistan back then, at a time when the CIA was funding bin Laden and other Muhadjadeen, and Al Qaeda didn't exist.

Some info here:

https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/world/middle-east/2018-10-19-jamal-khashoggi-once-a-friend-of-bin-laden-died-a-critic-of-saudi-arabias-extremism/

It is natural that the Saudis would claim he has connections with or sympathy for the Muslim Brotherhood. That is their standard criticism of any pro-democratic Muslim. (The main ideological difference between Wahhabism and Salafist/Muslim Brotherhood is that the latter is amenable to democracy; the former is not.)

Khashoggi's disappearance or execution is nothing new, since MBS has become powerful, and even before he became Crown Prince. Eg see the following, for some others kidnapped from Europe:

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-40926963

MBS started the war in Yemen. The worst war on the planet in the last few years, after the Yemenis rejected the president Saudi Arabia wanted in charge. He doesn't even put troops on the ground. He just bombs them from the air, trying to starve them into submission, using US supplied weapons. The long term consequences are likely to be devastating. Yemen, though poor, has a population nearly the size of Saudi Arabia.

Many people might not know there is a significant Shiite minority in Saudi Arabia. MBS has also waged all out war against them, in one location:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-security-awamiya/saudi-security-forces-flatten-old-quarter-of-shiite-town-idUSKBN1AP21S

Lets not forget MBS kidnapped the Lebanese Prime Minister in Nov last year:

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/surprise-resignation-of-lebanon-prime-minister-saad-hariri-saudi-arabia-tv-interview

Overall, the Saudi regime under MBS is the new Saddam Hussain or Col Gaddafi. Possibly a lot more dangerous.

37

Have you seen this appalling new Caleb and Sophia video??

by stuckinarut2 in

this manipulative new caleb and sophia video has got me so angry!!.

the level of cultiness has just gone to a whole new level!.

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/children/become-jehovahs-friend/videos/make-jehovah-god-happy/.

shepherdless

The message in itself isn't all that bad:
Don't cheat and don't play violent games.

Actually, there was also a strong suggestion that Sofia should not aspire to graduate from university. That part was disgusting.

37

Have you seen this appalling new Caleb and Sophia video??

by stuckinarut2 in

this manipulative new caleb and sophia video has got me so angry!!.

the level of cultiness has just gone to a whole new level!.

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/children/become-jehovahs-friend/videos/make-jehovah-god-happy/.

shepherdless

I thought Watchtower had given up on those Sofia and Caleb cartoons. I just watched it thinking how my 2 youngest kids would see it. Watchtower just doesn't understand kids.

My 2 youngest kids:

- would be baffled that a supposedly smart kid couldn't answer 168/4=___

- play far better vid games on their smart phones than that ancient artifact those boys in the school playground had.

Another "fail" from the borg. Long may it continue.

19

Religion in the USA and Elsewhere

by Joe Grundy in

trying to follow media reports in the us and elsewhere, a question occurred to me.. in the uk, religious beliefs are largely irrelevant to most people.

even those who claim adherence seem to do so in a fairly vague way and it doesn't seem to make much difference.. in the us (it seems to me) it's a much bigger issue.

the evangelical christian movement seems quite powerful politically in various iterations ("family values" etc.

shepherdless

Recent stats in a few of the more religious western countries show that religious belief is decreasing at a rate of around 1% per year. (Eg Pew report USA, Australian Census, and another recent survey in South Korea.) We live in a historic time where religion is losing its relevance at an astonishing rate.

It is not just Christianity that is dropping. I know of a Japanese family; grandmother a devout Buddhist with ancestor worship, etc, mother lights an incense stick once a year, kids have no interest in religion whatsoever. I know a Hindu family much the same.

I have recently noticed that, while some millennial Muslims are devout, a lot of millennial Muslims appear to be atheists. 3 times in the last couple of months, I was told something like "no, I was just born Muslim". About a week ago, a millennial Muslim named Mohammed (born and raised in a country bordering Israel, but went to Uni in a Western country) told me organised religion is just a tool to control and manipulate people. He said that in front of another "born Muslim" millennial. They still seem anti-Israel though, which I found interesting.

42

Watchtower Corp of New York worth over$ 2 billion

by Diogenesister in

in the montana sex abuse court case for the first time watchtower has been required by the courts to give a financial statement to the court to assess awards of punitive damages for negligence and (for the first time)malice in non compliance of mandatory reporting laws.. watchtower corp of new york has finances in excess of $2 billion while cc of jw is worth $49 million.

this doesn't include the pensylvania corp or what overseas branches may have.. pretty healthy bank balance by any standards..

shepherdless

Hail King Morpheus!

In answer to SBF’s question, I would assume other property such as Patterson and Walkill (or whatever they have; I am not up to date) would form part of the assets. I expect the retirement apartments that I read about, would be included. In relation to Assembly Halls, I recall that in the UK, they seem to be their own stand alone legal and accounting entities. I have checked, and “Melbourne Assembly Hall” in Aust is also it’s own separate legal and accounting entity.

42

Watchtower Corp of New York worth over$ 2 billion

by Diogenesister in

in the montana sex abuse court case for the first time watchtower has been required by the courts to give a financial statement to the court to assess awards of punitive damages for negligence and (for the first time)malice in non compliance of mandatory reporting laws.. watchtower corp of new york has finances in excess of $2 billion while cc of jw is worth $49 million.

this doesn't include the pensylvania corp or what overseas branches may have.. pretty healthy bank balance by any standards..

shepherdless

Understood , Morpheus.

My guess (and only a guess) would be that the figure does not include Kingdom Halls. The accounts of other branches that I have seen do not include Kingdom Halls. Warwick is probably listed in the accounts at the cost of construction, and that may be half a billion on its own.

22

Kingdom Hall Closures In Canada.

by Lost in the fog in

one of our friends in canada posted the following message to their circle of friends.

"in our meeting last night, the coordinator read a letter from the canadian branch about the reorganized territories.

all the territories in the fraser valley from hope to vancouver, about a hundred miles in all, have been reorganized to create larger congregations and improve the use of kingdom halls.

shepherdless

It is happening in Australia as well. Recently, the search facility on the Aust Govt Charities website has been greatly expanded. On exjw reddit, someone called JW-unplugged has pointed out you can search the charities website and get a list of dissolved congregations. 36 dissolved congregations in the last 3 years, including 22 dissolved in the last year.

Better still, it doesn’t seem to include those congregations very recently merged. For example, on the charities website, my wife’s former congregation is still listed as registered, but the contact details are for the other congregation it got merged into. So there is at least one more to add to the list.

42

Watchtower Corp of New York worth over$ 2 billion

by Diogenesister in

in the montana sex abuse court case for the first time watchtower has been required by the courts to give a financial statement to the court to assess awards of punitive damages for negligence and (for the first time)malice in non compliance of mandatory reporting laws.. watchtower corp of new york has finances in excess of $2 billion while cc of jw is worth $49 million.

this doesn't include the pensylvania corp or what overseas branches may have.. pretty healthy bank balance by any standards..

shepherdless

A few comments.

I thought the $1.6 billion figure came from a document extract, that was placed on another thread (perhaps another site). I recall the figure was slightly less, but close enough to $1.6 billion.

As Corney says, the info is of limited use, as we don’t know anything about the composition of the assets and liabilities. For example, we don’t know if it includes the Kingdom Halls. If it does, then either they have been assigned a book value equivalent to (say) their original purchase price, rather than their current market price, or WTBTS is carrying some serious debt. I can’t see how the figure would be as low as $1.6 billion otherwise.

As JWGonbad points out, most of that money will almost certainly be tied up in property, and other illiquid assets. They won’t have “1.6 billion greenbacks”.

Also, as Corney says, there is a long way to go, before that $35 million is paid out.