The "Wallstrom Affair" - How Saudi Arabia Reacts When Politicians Expose The Truth About The Kingdom
Authored by Nick Cohen, originally posted at The Spectator,
Sweden’s feminist foreign minister has dared to tell the truth about Saudi Arabia. What happens now concerns us all
Margot Wallström’s principled stand deserves wide support. Betrayal seems more likely...
If the cries of ‘Je suis Charlie’ were sincere, the western world would be convulsed with worry and anger about the Wallström affair. It has all the ingredients for a clash-of-civilisations confrontation.
A few weeks ago Margot Wallström, the Swedish foreign minister, denounced the subjugation of women in Saudi Arabia. As the theocratic kingdom prevents women from travelling, conducting official business or marrying without the permission of male guardians, and as girls can be forced into child marriages where they are effectively raped by old men, she was telling no more than the truth. Wallström went on to condemn the Saudi courts for ordering that Raif Badawi receive ten years in prison and 1,000 lashes for setting up a website that championed secularism and free speech. These were ‘mediaeval methods’, she said, and a ‘cruel attempt to silence modern forms of expression’. And once again, who can argue with that?
The backlash followed the pattern set by Rushdie, the Danish cartoons and Hebdo. Saudi Arabia withdrew its ambassador and stopped issuing visas to Swedish businessmen. The United Arab Emirates joined it. The Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, which represents 56 Muslim-majority states, accused Sweden of failing to respect the world’s ‘rich and varied ethical standards’ — standards so rich and varied, apparently, they include the flogging of bloggers and encouragement of paedophiles. Meanwhile, the Gulf Co-operation Council condemned her ‘unaccept-able interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’, and I wouldn’t bet against anti-Swedish riots following soon.
Yet there is no ‘Wallström affair’. Outside Sweden, the western media has barely covered the story, and Sweden’s EU allies have shown no inclination whatsoever to support her. A small Scandinavian nation faces sanctions, accusations of Islamophobia and maybe worse to come, and everyone stays silent. As so often, the scandal is that there isn’t a scandal.
It is a sign of how upside-down modern politics has become that one assumes that a politician who defends freedom of speech and women’s rights in the Arab world must be some kind of muscular liberal, or neocon, or perhaps a supporter of one of Scandinavia’s new populist right-wing parties whose commitment to human rights is merely a cover for anti-Muslim hatred. But Margot Wallström is that modern rarity: a left-wing politician who goes where her principles take her.
She is foreign minister in Sweden’s weak coalition of Social Democrats and Greens, and took office promising a feminist foreign policy. She recognised Palestine in October last year — and, no, the Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Co-operation and Gulf Co-operation Council did not condemn her ‘unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of Israel’. I confess that her gesture struck me as counterproductive at the time. But after Benjamin Netanyahu ruled out a Palestinian state as he used every dirty trick he could think of to secure his re-election, she can claim with justice that history has vindicated her.
She moved on to the Saudi version of sharia law. Her criticism was not just rhetorical. She said that it was unethical for Sweden to continue with its military co-operation agreement with Saudi Arabia. In other words, she threatened Swedish arms companies’ ability to make money. Saudi Arabia’s denial of business visas to Swedes threatened to hurt other companies’ profits too. You might think of Swedes as upright social democrats, who have never let worries of appearing tedious stand in the way of their righteousness. But that has never been wholly true, and is certainly not true when there is money at stake.
Sweden is the world’s 12th largest arms exporter — quite an achievement for a country of just nine million people. Its exports to Saudi Arabia total $1.3 billion. Business leaders and civil servants are also aware that other Muslim-majority countries may follow Saudi Arabia’s lead. During the ‘cartoon crisis’ — a phrase I still can’t write without snorting with incredulity — Danish companies faced global attacks and the French supermarket chain Carrefour took Danish goods off the shelves to appease Muslim customers. A co-ordinated campaign by Muslim nations against Sweden is not a fanciful notion. There is talk that Sweden may lose its chance to gain a seat on the UN Security Council in 2017 because of Wallström.
To put it as mildly as I can, the Swedish establishment has gone wild. Thirty chief executives signed a letter saying that breaking the arms trade agreement ‘would jeopardise Sweden’s reputation as a trade and co-operation partner’. No less a figure than His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf himself hauled Wallström in at the weekend to tell her that he wanted a compromise. Saudi Arabia has successfully turned criticism of its brutal version of Islam into an attack on all Muslims, regardless of whether they are Wahhabis or not, and Wallström and her colleagues are clearly unnerved by accusations of Islamophobia. The signs are that she will fold under the pressure, particularly when the rest of liberal Europe shows no interest in supporting her.
Sins of omission are as telling as sins of commission. The Wallström non-affair tells us three things.
It is easier to instruct small countries such as Sweden and Israel on what they can and cannot do than America, China or a Saudi Arabia that can call on global Muslim support when criticised.
Second, a Europe that is getting older and poorer is starting to find that moral stands in foreign policy are luxuries it can no longer afford. Saudi Arabia has been confident throughout that Sweden needs its money more than it needs Swedish imports.
Finally, and most revealingly in my opinion, the non-affair shows us that the rights of women always come last. To be sure, there are Twitter storms about sexist men and media feeding frenzies whenever a public figure uses ‘inappropriate language’. But when a politician tries to campaign for the rights of women suffering under a brutally misogynistic clerical culture she isn’t cheered on but met with an embarrassed and hugely revealing silence.
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Margot Wallström is a EU-whore deluxe.
She banked 26 million taxfree svenska kronor while giving Barrosso a weekly blowjob for free.
The 26 swedish industrial pigs såld out Sweden to their Anglo-American NWO buddies after WWII.
Sucks.....
Sweden needs to re-establish the Vikings and go bezerk on invaders, it worked in the past, this liberal, love everyone is bs.
The Vikings were invaders, and of the same type you now denounce.
You are not making sense.
I only speak facts.......except for the 'weekly blowjob' ribb.
What doesn't make sense for you Eirik?
Tsk tsk tsk. You post under a Scandinavian name but your tone suggests you know very little of your own history. It matters not. Your history is dead. You did it to yourself.
I must admit that the new immigrant Vikings caused some minor unpleasantness with their Catholic and Saxon neighbors in England, but as with all civilized people, certain accommodations were made and eventually, everyone got along quite swimmingly.
As to those later filthy Frenchmen, however...
Sorry, but I can't make myself listen to what anybody has to say, when they are speaking with a U.N. Backdrop Banner behind them...
U.S. judge orders deposition of Cosby's wife kept under seal
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-cosby-idUSKBN0UJ1FP20160105
A U.S. magistrate judge has ordered that a deposition of Bill Cosby's wife in connection with sexual assault allegations against the comedian should be kept under seal.
The order, entered by Magistrate Judge David Hennessy late on Monday in U.S. District Court in Springfield, Massachusetts, follows a request by Cosby family attorneys to delay the interview of Camille Cosby, the entertainer's spouse of almost 52 years and business manager. She is scheduled to be deposed on Wednesday.
The Massachusetts civil suit is one of a series of legal actions Cosby, 78, is facing over claims by more than 50 women that the actor sexually assaulted them after plying them with drugs and alcohol, in alleged instances that played out over decades.
Cosby's lawyers had argued that the intimate nature of the questions Camille Cosby could face in the deposition could cause her embarrassment if they were released publicly.
People magazine on Tuesday reported that Camille remained firm in her support of her husband, citing an unnamed source the magazine said was close to the family.
"They remain steadfast and resolute about working through this together," People quoted the source as saying.
A spokesman for Cosby did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.
========
This is from earlier this year...
SOUTH AFRICA: HILLARY CLINTON AND BILL COSBY VISIT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4XJtXtoOVM
Published on Jul 21, 2015
English/Nat
South African President, Nelson Mandela played tour guide Thursday at his former prison island to U-S First Lady, Hillary Clinton and American comedian, Bill Cosby.
Hijack much? Relevance to the above article?
Don't be a dick. This article has nothing to do with that pudding eating phony.
Now fuck off.
Saudi Arabia has been a cruel, corrupt, criminal, cabal for decades that has spread war, terror and mayhem. Blowback for its crimes is coming.
Saudi Arabia has gotten off lightly for all the wars and mayhem it has caused in this world. 100 attacks on hospitals in Yemen by Saudi Arabia and the free and fair Western press has been bought off:
Yemen hospitals ‘deliberately’ targeted in 100 attacks since March – ICRC
Medical facilities in war-torn Yemen are being ‘deliberately’ attacked, with some 100 incidents reported since the Saudi-led coalition began airstrikes in March, the International Committee of the Red Cross said, calling on all sides to cease hostilities.
https://www.rt.com/news/321522-yemen-hospitals-deliberately-targeted/ …
Here is a partial list of Saudi Arabia's other crimes in Yemen (as of July 20, 2015 - deaths today exceed 6000):
At least 3,500 have been killed as a result of the Saudi-led war, launched on March 26 of this year. Some 1,700 of these have been confirmed as civilians, according to the UN, with some 3,800 more civilians confirmed wounded.
Nearly 80 percent of the Yemeni population faces conditions of starvation, near starvation, and/or lack of reliable access to drinking water.
More than 1.2 million Yemenis have been forced to flee their homes by the war. At least 50,000 of the displaced have fled the country entirely, seeking refuge in neighboring countries of Oman, Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan.
Responsibility for the bloodshed and humanitarian disaster in Yemen lies squarely with Saudi Arabia, the other Gulf monarchies and their backers in Washington.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2015/07/20/yeme-j20.html
Yemen is now the world’s worst humanitarian crisis
http://www.globalpost.com/article/6708806/2015/12/20/yemen-might-be-worl...
All true, but the Saudis are hardly the worst offenders when it comes to deliberately attacking hospitals, bombing civilians, creating waves of refugees, and persecuting anyone who stands up and tells the truth about the dominant power structure. Just ask Edward Snowden.
or Bibi (but dont expect an honest answer from him)
I doubt that the "backers in Washington" have been enthusiastically cheering the Saudi war in Yemen, any more than they are pleased with SA's provocation of Iran in the last few days. These are actions that the Wahabis are taking to deliberately wreck Washington's attempted rapprochement with Iran. They may succeed, and force the US to remain in an increasingly awkward political marriage. Or they may managed to drive Washington straight into Iran's arms. Hard to say at this point, but it is a sign of discontent in the relationship.
A foolish, media attention, political play.
She is campaigning against an ideal steeped deep and long in Islam roots. Her voice vs Allah's? Did she expect them to acknowledge "her" infidel advice? Did she think she could change a fifth of planets religious beliefs with a speech?
Par for the course for the Swedes.
Swedish industrialists cheerfully sold the Third Reich all the iron ore needed to rebuild the German war machine. By the time the Wehrmacht had settled in Paris and Oslo and the Luftwaffe were boming London every night, Stockholm's choices were reduced to either doing Berlin's bidding and continuing to sell Berlin iron ore, or violent regime change in favour of people who would.
Not that nothing at all has changed. Sweden had little use for even Scandinavia's tiny Jewish population till fairly late in the war, blocking Jewish immigration from Germany in the 1930's. I wonder why Stockholm can't get enough Muslim "refugees" now, even when it's rarely clear that they would have anything to fear if returned home?
Only a churl would suggest that Sweden's elites believed that high-IQ German Jews were competition for their places at the top of the economic heap in a way low-IQ Muslims from the ends of the earth could never hope to be.
Just look who is US ambassador in Sweden.
OH SHITE that is just so insane. ZB's son what a friggin joke. It just gets better and better and more depressing; this trip down into this nightmare of corruption and class and control. Tentacles everywhere, all with secret bank accounts and secret handshakes and cocktails with the Queens.
Always follow the money. But thanks for that.
Hey, don't critize the Swedes for doing something right and moral. The question is, where did they go wrong ? Maybe it's those "high I
Q Jews like Barbara Lerner Spectre that have the solution.
The respectable High IQ ASKENAZI Jews go into science. Physics in particular. Great to have. You don't want the banking types Jewish or not!
And they were right to do so, countries shouldnt be meddlign in the affairs of others. Sweden should first fix their own self destroyed country.
Must have oil. To drive to job. To pay taxes. To spend on military "grand chessboard." To get oil. to drive to job ...
+1000 You just won the internet !
"The wheels on the bus go round and round....round and round...."
If Wallström is such a massive feminist she might want to consider stop wasting her time lecturing muslims 5000 miles away and deal with the scourge that is terrorizing her own fucking country.
I used to admire the Norse people. I can barely contain my contempt these days.
Fools.
We'll always have Eirik Magnus Larssen to look up to and admire.
So, there's that.
Did you know he married a black woman? Ask him. He'll be more than happy to tell you all about it.
And your point is???
Simply that he's no Nordic Johnny Come Lately multiculturist wannabe but puts his money where his mouth is, in a manner of speaking.
OK well he may or may not have done well in the mating market but in general the Nags are a loosing deal. True story: I have a bit of a penchant for Brasil and spend signif time there. Every girl that I have dated with significant african ancestry there relatively rapidly starts asking for money. That's when I disappear. Just like in the USA the less black you have in you in general the more independent you are. Of course that does not stop me from diddling a real hotty for a short time till she asks. They are some very beautiful black girls in Brazil. On a per capita basis puts USA to shame. Where our black girls are ugly as mud walls for the most part.
She should lecture the muzzies 5 miles away.
Perhaps Sweden should invade Saudia Arabia and install a Femminist/Faggot/Green/Liberal government. I'll be the Swedes hit like girls.
"Off with her head" said the King.
Whoops.
There goes the Swedish Embassy in Riyadh.
No more Ikea microwave bacon platters for you, Abdul.
Well if Mr Cohen is hyping Ms Femminist Wallstrom of Sweden then I'm on Saudia Arabias side automatically. Sweden is not even a nation anymore, just a territory populated temporarily by Leftist Loons and low IQ Rape Apes who will disposses the pale Lefties in a few generations. I mean, it's really not Swedens business to attempt to dictate to any other country regarding their cultural practices - ironic since Ms Femminist can't control the rape crises in her own benighted territory ! (Except for going after Assange at the behest of the USSA, a must do for Justice of course).
I could substitute USA into your comments in place of Sweden. Easy peasy. USA has done more to influence all this garbage than rats infecting a dwelling. Lefties? Righties? Feminism? Loons? What IQ do you exist in? "Benighted territory?"
Who forms your thoughts? Another USA loon. another brainless twit. Honey your parroting of narrow-minded views will be your downfall. The friggin parrot is dead.
So many triggering statements here that I feel as if I might swoon...
"Whacko" - appropriate - existing at a higher IQ level than yours. Honey.
Sweden Population 5 million people (about 1/2 of NYC)
USA Population: 325 million
It won't take many generations of low birth rates amongst ethnic Swedes coupled with heavy immigtation and hhigh birt rates of Muslims for the nation to cease to exist.
She "threatens Sweden's arms exports"? Are you kidding?
What -- who besides their own Gov or Switzerland's is going to buy SAAB's Gripen fighter planes, i.e. the ones they haven't already? Will US sales of Rockwell Collins HUDs to SAAB have to be scaled back? From 60 to 50? LMAO.
And it's not as though Arabs buy Saab or Volvo cars, listen to ABBA, or buy furniture from IKEA. LOL.
We'd better boycott their Nobel Prize awards, if it weren't for the Usual Suspects getting prizes in Economics.
Sweden just opened a Rape Crisis center for men, necessitated by a large influx of Middle Eastern Muslims into Sweden and these same Muslims have views similar to Saudi Arabia when it comes to women.
Unless Wallstrom is going to close her borders she really should STFU about Saudi Arabia b/c her and her Liberal Multicultural elites are bringing Saudi Arabia to Sweden.
What I would like to know is, what is her policy on the muslim immigration to Sweden.
I suspect she is very much supportive of it.
I would call that a major case of cognitive dissidence.
Everybody saw the elephant in the room, but pretended not to see.
Thank God slavery was abolished in the west in the 19th century. The "leaders" of today will "defer" to the wishes of the rich and varied ethical cultures of our times.
Saudi Arabia is hijacked by Infidel Wahabbis ,
born from JewwishWhoresInTurkeySoTheyAreBastards
They are stooges of Israel & Satan America
They marry girls from America & Europe
Their policies are pro-west ,
They are falsely claimimg to be as Muslims
These Wahabbi Saudi Royals are not muslims
They are only fooling the sunnis
All muslims should rise up against them
and drive them out these infidel wahabbis & recapture Mecca & Medina
Run them down & take them to same place where
they have beheaded many for the transport
out of the world