Yvonne,

Says >> “ I haven't heard a peep about removing the wahabbi royalty and freeing the Saudi citizens.”

This is because the Saudis people themselves are mostly wahabists. The Saudi royals made a pact with the wahabist imams. Getting rid of the monarchy would only result in another theocracy in the Middle East.

You seem to be suggesting that Iraq (as it was under Saddam) and Iran are two countries that lefties should support. Is that what you are saying?

The left, particularly the feminist left, who are silent on fundamentalist Islam are the apologists. See Germaine Greer try and explain why FGM is ok; and how ,really, it’s comparable to breast augmentation.

The left, in its RABID hatred of the US cannot bring itself to criticise Islamic groups which also hate the US. They seem to think that they have more in common with the Islamists, which is astounding.

It is not acceptable to receive money to promote fundamentalist Islam. I don’t think its ok to accept money from fundamentalist Christians either and I’m sure you would be the first to complain if the exclusive brethren were looking to fund their own program at a Uni.

The problem is that the Vice Chancellor suggested that the Saudis could have a say in how the money is spent, and that he would keep it quiet if they wanted. Why would he try and keep it quiet? Because he knew it was something unacceptable.

We don’t need more fundamentalist Islamists in this country. Griffith Universities Islamic department has a mission to teach MODERATE Islam. That needs to be carefully protected because the Saudis have had much success promoting their particular virulent sect of Islamism.

Peachy,

The anger in Muslim and academic circles follows revelations by The Australian that the Queensland university asked the Saudis for a $1.37 million grant, of which it received $100,000, and offered to keep elements of the funding deal secret. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23607799-5013404,00.html

Paul, your dislike of left of the spectrum in politics and feminism sound very, very personal. It makes it difficult for you to actually understand questions or understand what is stated by anybody who you deem to come from that spectrum.

If it makes any difference to you, the only political party I ever joined was the Liberal Party. The ALP I've always considered to be 3 parties, whichever faction is the biggest bully gets to call the shots.

Do you realize that the USA is not made up of a citizenry that is only right wing conservative? There is a difference between disliking, or suspicion of the motives, of foreign policy of any nation and 'hating' a country.

So, when you hear 'anti' USA viewpoints from anybody it does not equate to being RABID left wing hating America, but questioning the motives of Conservative US POLICY.

What is the difference to you between Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Tibet, Zimbabwe or even Dafur? Why was it rational to 'free' Iraq, but not any of the other countries/regions? Egypt and Pakistan are arguably dangerous breeding grounds for terrorism yet continue to be very good 'friends' with the USA. Iraq's dictator was no more appalling than any number of rulers who the West happily continue to be allies with.

Are you saying that the Saudi people are happy because they are all(??) followers of Wahabbism? Saudi Arabia is no less a theocracy than is Iran. The majority Iranians are Shia Muslims and chose to become a theocracy.

You are ridiculous and offensive with your statement re FGM and feminism. FGM is a disgusting violation inflicted on women to please men. No feminist supports FGM on any grounds. It is MALE perpetrated and demanded violence on women. If all men refused to marry any woman who was cut the practice would stop overnight.

Regarding the Saudi money going to Australian Universities. It is directly the cause of CONSERVATIVE politics insisting that universities become not publicly funded places of independent research and teaching, but money making businesses that created this situation.

Yvonne,

You say >> “No feminist supports FGM on any grounds”

Germaine Greer “Female genital mutilation had to be considered in context, she wrote, and might be compared with breast augmentation in the West.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germaine_Greer

You say “Are you saying that the Saudi people are happy because they are all(??) followers of Wahabbism”

What a ridiculous thing to say. I haven’t mentioned happiness anywhere. What I said, and it is really quite simple, is that you won’t get rid of Wahabism in Saudi by over throwing the house of Saud. Your point that they are already basically a theocracy backs this up.

As regards Uni funding I agree there should be more from gov’t. I don’t, however, agree that this absolves the Griffith VC in ANY WAY. He knew what he was doing was not right. He would well have known that the Saudis have been involved in missionary type work, which is always incompatible with independent research and teaching. To then allow the Saudis to direct where the money would be spent and to keep it quiet for them is unacceptable.

Do you deny that anti Americanism is rife in leftist politics? Do you deny that many leftists (even if you aren't one yourself) hope that we and the US lose in both Iraq and Afghanistan?

You say “ Iraq's dictator was no more appalling than any number of rulers who the West happily continue to be allies with”

Who are you referring to?

Busy At the moment about 85 billion into unis and many many other projects.
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