ok, so i can do a terse but serious analysis of the saudi thing.

clearly, if chrystia freeland had any intention of actually doing something concrete to release this blogger or her sister, she wouldn't have posted it on twitter. a lot of the media is suggesting this was unprofessional. but, that's kind of just the point - this was the government engaging in useless clicktivism, for the sole purposes of internal consumption. the fact that she posted it on twitter is a clear indicator that the government does not actually care about the situation at all.

generally, this kind of thing is intended as a distraction. the question is what they're distracting from. the refugee situation? our apparent removal from nafta? a pointless squabble with the saudis is an opportunity for better media...

...or so they no doubt thought.

it's hard to tell whether the saudis are reacting because they've been attacked as a part of a media ploy and are pissy about it, or because they see as much to gain from the reciprocity - if our government can benefit by using the saudis as a decoy, can the saudis do just as well by decoying us, too? or are they legitimately irked?

i frankly don't care much about what the saudis think at all. i've been calling for regime change in this country for years, under the understanding that they are the problem in the middle east. every stupid conflict happening there right now is entirely their fault, from libya to afghanistan. this regime must fall, if we want peace.

so, are they upset? really. awww. the wittle saudis are upset. awww.

but, there are benefits to kicking their students out, too - we need the housing, right now. and, we don't need more muslim doctors, either, as they don't follow the law here - they just whine about how it doesn't align with their religion.

i'm not going to get distracted about this. it strikes me as bullshit.

but, frankly?

i don't care if they are legitimately angry. good riddance.