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You mean that they have some "private benefactors" in the Gulf? Sure, but that doesn't mean Saudi Arabia is funding them. Saudi Arabia is part of the coalition

by lottin 10y ago

You mean that they have some "private benefactors" in the Gulf? Sure, but that doesn't mean Saudi Arabia is funding them. Saudi Arabia is part of the coalition that is bombing IS.

josefresco 10y ago
Yes - those private benefactors are people - Saudi Arabia is not a person. The official government position is clear, but the government is made up of people ... who fund terrorism. I actually think we're on the same page here - a government can publicly have one position, while it's people have another.
- Cyph0n 10y ago
  > but the government is made up of people ... who fund terrorism. Are you implying that government officials are funding ISIS? Or do you mean "government" as in "the country is governed by its people"? If it's the former, please provide evidence. If it's the latter, recall that KSA is a full-blown monarchy, so the people != the ruling elite.
  - josefresco 10y ago
    Mostly the former, plenty of evidence exists in the public domain. My point is that a government can have a public position, even actively fight for it - however at the same time, it's private citizens (both in the gov and not) can have another position. This is a larger topic than HN can and should be host to ... thanks for the debate.
    - Cyph0n 10y ago
      > Mostly the former, plenty of evidence exists in the public domain. Perhaps, but when you make such statements, the burden of proof is on you. > My point is that a government can have a public position, even actively fight for it I'm sure that there probably are ISIS apologists among Saudis - I'd argue that they are few in number - but it's nonetheless important to make the distinction between the government and regular citizens. Furthermore, you seem to be ignoring the fact that such activity is outright illegal, so it's not as if the government is OK with Saudi ISIS supporters.

by lottin 10y ago

You mean that they have some "private benefactors" in the Gulf? Sure, but that doesn't mean Saudi Arabia is funding them. Saudi Arabia is part of the coalition that is bombing IS.

josefresco 10y ago

Yes - those private benefactors are people - Saudi Arabia is not a person. The official government position is clear, but the government is made up of people ... who fund terrorism. I actually think we're on the same page here - a government can publicly have one position, while it's people have another.

Cyph0n 10y ago
> but the government is made up of people ... who fund terrorism. Are you implying that government officials are funding ISIS? Or do you mean "government" as in "the country is governed by its people"? If it's the former, please provide evidence. If it's the latter, recall that KSA is a full-blown monarchy, so the people != the ruling elite.
- josefresco 10y ago
  Mostly the former, plenty of evidence exists in the public domain. My point is that a government can have a public position, even actively fight for it - however at the same time, it's private citizens (both in the gov and not) can have another position. This is a larger topic than HN can and should be host to ... thanks for the debate.
  - Cyph0n 10y ago
    > Mostly the former, plenty of evidence exists in the public domain. Perhaps, but when you make such statements, the burden of proof is on you. > My point is that a government can have a public position, even actively fight for it I'm sure that there probably are ISIS apologists among Saudis - I'd argue that they are few in number - but it's nonetheless important to make the distinction between the government and regular citizens. Furthermore, you seem to be ignoring the fact that such activity is outright illegal, so it's not as if the government is OK with Saudi ISIS supporters.