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The Great Firewall of .... Kuwait?
first axiom writes: "The BBC is running a story on Kuwait shutting down 50 internet cafes for allowing access to pornography. While this number might seem trifling compared to China's thousands shut down, Kuwait is a country smaller than New Jersey, with about 2 million people. However, it's one of the best-connected countries in the Middle-East, and sometimes it's interesting to see someone on *this* side of the political fence (an ally or 'strategic partner' of the U.S.) pull a stunt like this."
Last time I checked (admittedly, about the time of Desert Storm) the Kuwaiti Gov't was a hereditary dictatorship - only family members allowed citizenship/vote, women not allowed to vote at all. What some Arab countries call "democracy" most Americans would call "cronyism".
Pavlov wouldn't be so famous if he'd used a can opener instead of a bell.
"It's interesting to see someone on *this* side of the political fence (an ally or 'strategic partner' of the U.S.) pull a stunt like this."
This isn't about silencing free speech, It's about protection of minors. Does anyone think that it's fair use that computers in public places ought to be able to have some guy jacking off while the kid next to him is playing counterstrike? Especially in that type of (primarily) unstable environment?
The US does this too. I worked in a Cybercafe for a year and a half, and we were paid a visit by the police on two seperate occasions about minors having access to inappropriate material.
Trust me, this has nothing to do with "free speech".
and sometimes it's interesting to see someone on *this* side of the political fence pull a stunt like this.
Oh no worries, I'm sure America will find a reason to put them on the *other* side of the political fence.
Since after all, Iraq & Saddam were on *this* side of the political fence 20 years ago, and Afghanistan was a friend (The enemy-of-an-enemy kind of friend) what, 10 years ago?
THEN it will be safe to call them dictators or barbarians or something.
"Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
The US interest in Kuwait has everything to do with oil and nothing more. Don't fool yourself into thinking that there's anything else in common here.
No wonder we USians get shit upon so much. It's not our place to be the moral police of the world. It's not our place to dictate to others. We left Europe (most of us) precisely to avoid that kind of shit. Unfortunately, since at least Madison, we've had to deal with bringing our great and wonderfulness to all the world.
I'm no great believer in PC, moral relativism, or all that crap. But I do believe in staying out of other people's damned business so long as it doesn't affect me. If Kuwaitis have a problem with this, let them revolt. I'd consider helping them. But if they aren't willing to sturm and drang on their own, why should I care?
Being able to go to JennaJameson.com is not some great right. Being able to espouse differing political views IS. Try to understand the difference.
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon