tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14422435.post7684224010213925504..comments2024-10-25T13:58:36.797+01:00septicislehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03369157723084834549noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14422435.post-42004726416700908872012-06-08T12:12:47.266+01:002012-06-08T12:12:47.266+01:00The apparent reason why we won&#39;t make a stand against the Saudis is the same as when Blair/Goldsmith forced the dropping of the al-Yamanah SFO investigation: they&#39;ll just make threats like they always do. I suspect though that they would be shamed if told they couldn&#39;t attend while they&#39;re not allowing women to compete.<br /><br />Incidentally, I don&#39;t think the Sri Lankans care if they&#39;re snubbed either. Like all the best loathsome regimes they&#39;ve got PR firms working on their behalf; the Graun on Wednesday had a lengthy pull out on what a wonderful place the country is now the war&#39;s over.septicislehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03369157723084834549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14422435.post-41161999745435252342012-06-08T05:21:34.155+01:002012-06-08T05:21:34.155+01:00On the Ukraine/Saudis/Olympic front, isn&#39;t the argument here something like the one for pressuring Israel and South Africa despite there being places that are far worse abusers - that the leaders of those countries care about what we think, about their international image, and might be shamed into changing, whereas the Saudis obviously won&#39;t...?<br /><br />I&#39;d have expected Sri Lanka to fall into the Ukraine category rather than the Saudi category in UK officials&#39; eyes though. Odd.john bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13784096180652522939noreply@blogger.com