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0 pointsnoduerme14y ago0 comments

The difference being that the people involved wouldn't be aware there was oil under their feet if our country hadn't invented the market for it, told them it was there and given them the equipment to drill it. Left to their own devices, the only thing they'd be hacking right now would be the back end of a camel. What do you think the chances are that their brute force method wasn't one of a million snippets written by someone in the west? Or in Israel, for that matter? How about the computers they used to get on the network they benefit from, but didn't create? Reckon the intel chips were made in Israel?

After all the petty bullshit, Saudis like to party too. The problem is their government and society is repressive as hell, and they're so scared to confront it, they have to go into this whole make-believe world where they act as heroes by attacking Israeli servers. It's pretty funny. I'm sure Israelis will recover. The Saudis on the other hand still live in a medieval hellhole where women can't drive a car... and this really doesn't do much to change anything. Their time and energy would be better spent trying to bring civilization to their own wasteland.

[Edit] I should add, the fact that if you did this in your own country, you'd probably have your hands cut off, is a powerful motivation to go after somebody with more liberal values.

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5 comments · 2 top-level

hackly14y ago· 3 in thread

Ironic how despite all this, the american government finds it fit to support this repressive regime, while demonizing countries like Syria where citizens (or at least women) enjoy greater freedoms. One could say it all depends on your stance vis-a-vis Israel. The fact of the matter is that, countries like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Yemen, old Egypt, North Korea etc. have normalized or at least neutral relations with Israel (despite the hypocritical rhetoric to appease the masses), and hence are supported or allowed to have their way (even their bombs).

I think this hacking incident is a mere accident, and the ruling Saudis will be quick to repress it and assure Israel none of this will happen again.

berntb14y ago

>>demonizing countries like Syria

How can you "demonize" that type of brutal regimes? What more can you say about them? That Assad eats children?

>>One could say it all depends on your stance vis-a-vis Israel.

>>the ruling Saudis will be quick to repress it and assure Israel none of this will happen again

Sigh, so Saudi Arabia is pro Israel? :-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism_in_the_Arab_world#...

This is a model of what happens there without conspiracy theories:

Saudi Arabia is needed as an ally by the US. It is called "realpolitik" -- all countries, including democracies, use it and lie about it. (The difference with democracies is that they do support human rights, as long as it doesn't cost too much.)

North Korea sells/sold nuclear tech to Syria/Iran; are you really claiming they have "neutral" relations with Israel?

And so on... please don't write this kind of thing on HN.

rbanffy14y ago

I would say this whole thread took a wrong turn with noduerme's deeply rude, ignorant, arrogant an plain racist post. We would all have gained something had it never existed.

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hackly14y ago

>> How can you "demonize" that type of brutal regimes? What more can you say about them? That Assad eats children?

I was referring to the _relative_ treatment. I thought this was clearly implied. Syria's regime is definitely not above blame. But neither is Saudi Arabia and it deserves an equal share of 'demonization' by the government and the media.

>> Sigh, so Saudi Arabia is pro Israel? :-)

You musn't mistake public policy that carries no weight with actual behavior. Egypt under Mubarak was trumpeted as anti-Israel, but was clearly colluding with them in Gaza affairs. Saudi Arabia is unique in that there is a strong powerful extremist movement that needs to be placated by the ruling family. This makes for more empty talk that confuses many.

>> North Korea sells/sold nuclear tech to Syria/Iran; are you really claiming they have "neutral" relations with Israel?

They too have had their share of trouble as we all know, but I may be wrong on this one.

>> please don't write this kind of thing on HN

What kind of thing? When you see remarks like those of noduerme being upvoted, it's important that people understand that our governments are just as responsible for sustaining the abuses going on in the MidEast so that they don't misdirect their hate towards muslims/arabs.

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eternalban14y ago

> The difference being that the people involved wouldn't be aware there was oil under their feet ...

In the modern sense of appreciating its immense value, possibly, but factually incorrect as a general statement:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_petroleum#Early_hist...

http://www.cyberistan.org/islamic/islmoil1.html

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