Lipstick and Animal Farm on the Campaign Trail- Pitbulls and Kosher Pigs- Arms Deals and Population Math in the Gulf
"All animals are equal." But are some more equal?
Animal Farm, George Orwell
Are some animals more equal than others when it comes to lipstick too? Apparently they do: it is OK to put lipstick on a pitbull but not on a pig (or perhaps a sow). It is silly season, ushered by the McCain campaign.
Whose lipstick is the media talking about anyway: Palin's or McCain's? Actually Sarah Palin looks good in lipstick- only if she would stop repeating these silly phrases they have written for her, day in and day out.
As for McCain, she is his lipstick: she is supposed to make him look energized, good and....appealing to both sexes, of course. So, maybe Obama was talking about her being his lipstick. Maybe that is why he did not say 'lipstick on a sow'. But would it still be 'sexist' if he meant McCain?
FYI: lipstick not only doesn't improve a pig's looks, it doesn't make it kosher either. Now as for a dog...
Saudi media is blasting US plans to arm the new Iraqi air force, just as Israeli media tends to blast proposed US arms sales to Saudi Arabia. There is a deal to supply them with F-16 jets as well as advanced helicopters, and an Asharq alawsat (Prince Salman al-Saud daily) editorial claims that would threaten the states of the Persian-American Gulf region. There is talk about 'what' would Iraq use these new weapons for. Perhaps they will be put to the same use the many tens (hundreds by now?) of billions of dollars of Saudi arms purchases have been put to- in addition to generating high commissions (called bribes in less genteel quarters) for princes and potentates. The last one is a by-product, call it the collateral damage, of rapacious and avaricious arms deals.
“These states, the GCC Gulf states, have a combined population of 40 million people, a US$ 1.1 trillion economy and they have the most modern weaponry. In comparison, the 'Zionist Entity' (he means the State of Israel) has a population of only 7.3 million and a national product (GDP? GNP?) of US$ 232 billion, and an effective armed force of no more than 168 thousand. …...We have the means to achieve the same and more...” Elaph, Sept 8.
Except that the 40 million is more like 20-25 million for all GCC states combined, including Saudi Arabia. Many of them, in some states most of them, are foreign labor. The share of foreign expatriate labor in total population varies, from about 90% for the UAE to over 65% in Kuwait to over 25% for Saudi Arabia. So, on average the eligible population is more like 10 million. Besides, it is not the quantity, it is the quality, stupid.
Cheers
mhg
m.h.ghuloum@gmail.com
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