Saudi Arabia at Brave New Films

The "Have-Oil" and the "Have-Nots"

2008-10-30T09:36:20Z

Skyrocketing oil prices in the second quarter of this year led ExxonMobil to report the highest ever record profit by an American company. Who else is profiting? And why are laborers not getting paid in the Arabian Gulf?

Answers to these questions and more on Link TV's Mosaic Intelligence Report presented by Jamal Dajani.

For more info, visit at www.linktv.org

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bae

2008-10-29T15:31:14Z

Afshin Rattansi interviews Symon Hill from the Campaign Against the Arms Trade on :
LONDON: A senior British prosecutor's decision to drop a bribery investigation into BAE Systems Plc weapons contracts with Saudi Arabia doesn't need to be reconsidered, the highest court in Britain ruled.

The House of Lords overturned a lower court and said former U.K. Serious Fraud Office Director Robert Wardle had the authority to call off his corruption probe. Wardle had cited threats to national security as justification.

Wardle "received advice from a number of sources about the threat to national security if the investigation continued," Alan Rodger, one of five judges deciding the case said in the ruling from London. The SFO director had concluded "British lives would be put at risk."

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Iranian President Ahmadinejad Press Conference 130508

2008-10-28T03:30:03Z

Afshin Rattansi anchors coverage of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's press conference in the context of a crisis in Lebanon, sixty years of the Israeli occupation and the threat of U.S. military action against the Islamic Respublic.

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BLOOD & OIL — Brave New Review

2008-11-24T14:14:45Z

(Blood & Oil – documentary – 52 min – directed by Jeremy Earp – narrated by Michael T. Klare)

If you want to understand how the US got into the predicament we're in with oil and the wars we fight to get it, Blood & Oil, the Media Education Foundation's newest documentary, is required viewing.

(Full Disclosure: Jeremy Earp and his team at MEF were instrumental in the making of FOX ATTACKS! Iran. They provided much of the early FOX footage during the lead up to the Iraq war, and I'll always be grateful for their assistance.)

Last year, I reviewed MEF's terrific documentary, War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death, and was mightily impressed with the long, non-partisan view of how the media and the US government convinces Americans of the "necessity" of going to war. After seeing Blood & Oil, I now realize that this long view might be MEF's signature strength. Narrated by Michael T. Klare, correspondent for the Nation and one of the world's top experts on energy and security issues, B&O takes you through the complete history of America and oil, from when the US produced nearly 100% of its own oil (and used it to win World War II) up to the embarrassing, self-destructive mess we now find ourselves in, where more and more of our paychecks go towards buying an increasing amount of oil from governments that don’t like us.

While WME did a fantastic job of smashing the myth of a “liberal” media that is oddly enthusiastic about repeating the government’s warmongering propaganda, B&O dispels the right wing myth that the US never goes to war for oil. From FDR to Jimmy Carter to the Bushes to Bill Clinton, America’s hunger for and pursuit of oil has been at the heart of US foreign policy for the past 60 years. Like WME, B&O lets no party or administration off the hook. The film contains footage, declassified documents, and excerpts from presidential doctrines to show that the US government has long believed that control over the world’s dwindling supply of oil is worth sacrificing countless American lives and dollars while supporting some of the world’s most repressive, anti-democratic regimes.

The idea that the US goes to war for oil is not a liberal conspiracy theory — it’s America’s officially-stated foreign policy. In most cases, America’s foreign policy and energy policy are virtually indistinguishable. The problem is that Americans overwhelmingly do not view oil as a suitable reason to go to war, which is why “freedom”, “new Hitler”, and “WMDs” becomes the justification while we give billions of dollars a year to a country that forbids women to drive.

Larry Craig: Don't Jerk Us Around by the Gas Nozzle

2008-10-28T03:31:25Z

Yes, you heard that right! In speaking about energy independence on the Senate floor, Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) said that America needs to start producing oil once again so that foreign countries won't "jerk us around by the gas nozzle."

Now, I'm no expert on energy independence, but I would think that Bush, McCain, and the rest of the Republicans pushing for offshore drilling wouldn't want Craig and his scandalous past to come anywhere near a campaign with soundbytes like this that could be misconstrued as innuendo. But that's just me.

What's also funny about this clip is that Craig somehow thinks that offshore drilling will suddenly fix our economy and national security, as well as allay the xenephobic fears that he and his cronies have been implanting for years. Oil, the magical cure-all. Gas nozzle!

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Nikolas Gvosdev: The Energy Crisis

2008-10-16T12:51:08Z

Gvosdev discusses how the US and Europe are negotiating to get energy supplies and how the US will have to deal with the problem in the future.
This is an excerpt from a Carnegie Council Global Policy Innovations event, "The Rise of the Rest," on July 1, 2008. For the full video, audio, and transcript, go to www.policyinnovations.org or www.carnegiecouncil.org

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A Soft Reprogramming Approach to Terror

2008-11-20T17:40:03Z

Saudi Arabia attempts to rehabilitate Al Qaeda members with an integrated program of social support and therapy.

Visit news.bbc.co.uk

Major oil find underway in Bosnia - 29 June 2008

2008-10-27T09:29:39Z

Bosnia calls itself the Olympics of the oil and gas industry. As record oil prices continue to cause concern around the globe, the world's leading consumers and producers are in Madrid, Spain's capital, for the 19th World Petroleum Congress.

A similar meeting in Saudi Arabia failed last week to produce any agreement on what to do about soaring oil prices, but the conference in Madrid is suppose to better the dire situation.

Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher reports from Bosnia where the country is on the verge of a major oil find and how high oil price could be good news for one corner of Europe.

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Inside Story - Solving the oil crisis - 23 Jun 08 - Part 2

2008-10-26T15:32:00Z

Leading oil exporters have gathered at a summit in Saudi Arabia to tackle the crisis but is increasing oil production the solution or should alternative energy sources be considered? Inside Story investigates.

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Who profits from Gulf oil revenues? - 22 Jun 08

2008-10-26T15:31:24Z

A new report has detailed the staggering profits being made by the six nation Gulf Co-operation Council of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

In 2007, they earned $364bn from oil, and that's set to increase in 2008 to almost $650bn.

But who profits from those huge revenues?

Amr El Khaky reports from Saudi Arabia.

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Roots of Conflict in the Middle East

2008-10-27T03:29:37Z

Complete video at: fora.tv

Historian Niall Ferguson debates futurist author Peter Schwartz on the historical roots of modern-day conflicts in the Middle East.

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Niall Ferguson and Peter Schwartz present Historian vs. Futurist on Human Progress as part of The Long Now Foundation's Seminars about Long-term Thinking.

Niall Ferguson, MA, D.Phil., is the Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History at Harvard University. He is a resident faculty member of the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies.

He is also a Senior Research Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford University, and a Senior Fellow of the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.

He is most recently the author of the books The War of the World: Twentieth-Century Conflict and the Descent of the West (2006) and Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire (2004).

Peter Schwartz is cofounder and chairman of Global Business Network (GBN), a unique membership organization and worldwide network of strategists, business executives, scientists, and artists based in Emeryville, California. Established in 01988, GBN specializes in corporate scenario planning and research on the future of the business environment. From 01982 to 01986, Peter headed scenario planning for the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies in London. His team conducted comprehensive analyses of the global business and political environment and worked with senior management to create successful strategies.

Schwartz is the co-author of both the 01999 books The Long Boom, and When Good Companies Do Bad Things: Responsibility and Risk in an Age of Globalization, and is the author of the 01991 book, The Art of the Long View: Planning for the Future in an Uncertain World. He is a member of the Long Now Foundation's Board of Directors.

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MIR: Turkey & Qatar - New Mediators on the Block

2008-11-07T14:04:50Z

The Lebanese feuding factions reach an agreement in Qatar. The Syrians and the Israelis are talking peace with the help of Turkey. What's going on? And why are traditional mediators like the US absent from the negotiating tables?

Answers to these questions and more on Link TV's Mosaic Intelligence Report.

For more info, visit at www.linktv.org

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Bush promises Enriched Uranium to Saudi's for cheap gas

2008-10-20T21:30:35Z

As US Threatens Iran Over Enriching Uranium, Bush Promises to Give Enriched Uranium to Saudi Arabia

The Bush administration has pledged to support Saudi Arabia's nuclear power program, including supplying enriched uranium for nuclear reactors. The agreement came out of President Bush's visit to the Saudi kingdom last week, during which Bush also pledged new US assistance in guarding Saudi oil reserves. [includes rush transcript]

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Everywoman - The veil - 16 May 08 - Part 1

2008-10-21T09:30:47Z

In Part Two of our Everywoman special on the veil we meet a girl who has made the decision not to cover up.

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Everywoman - The veil - 16 May 08 - Part 2

2008-10-21T15:30:58Z

Three Egyptian women talk to Everywoman about their experiences of wearing the veil.

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Everywoman - Saudi Human Rights Watch report-09 May 08- Pt 1

2008-10-14T11:27:28Z

Saudi Women and Chinese Plastic Surgery Contest. How women's rights are being abused daily in Saudi Arabia, and the Chinese TV show where you can win a new face

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Global Pulse - 5/08/08: Oil, Gas - and Carrots

2008-10-26T09:29:22Z

(May 8, 2008) While oil and natural gas prices are skyrocketing, the world's
energy consumers are trying to find ways to reserve oil and gas for
themselves. Now, energy rich countries are using their resources as
political leverage: Iran is trying to sell it. Venezuela is trying to barter
and trade, while oil hungry countries use different strategies to buy into
Africa.

SOURCES: ABC News, U.S.; BBC, U.K.; Press TV and Al Alam, Iran; TV5, France; Latino America Noticias, Uruguay; Asia Today, China; South Asia Newsline, India; Al Jazeera English, Qatar.

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Bush to ask for oil production increase

2008-10-26T21:29:24Z

May 7. - When President Bush visits Saudi Arabia as part of a Mideast trip next week, he is expected to ask for an increase in oil production.With oil surging to new highs, President Bush is expected to ask Saudi officials for an increase in OPEC output. On his last visit to Saudi Arabia, Bush urged OPEC to boost production because the high price of oil was hurting the economies of its customers, but the oil group did not do so.

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medea ? for Republicans

2008-10-23T15:29:45Z

This is a question by Medea Benjamin of CODEPINK for the Republican YouTube debate...

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Guess Who Is One of the World's Top Five Executioners...

2008-10-14T11:24:20Z

...The United States. Rounding out that list, according to Amnesty International, are China, Iran, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabi. If you are a reflection of the company you keep, this cannot be a good thing!

From Democracy Now 04/17/08.

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Bernard Haykel: Saudi Arabia's Relationship with the U.S.

2008-10-14T11:27:26Z

Bernard Haykel discusses Saudi Arabia's complicated relationship with the U.S., including the Royal Family's attitude towards the Iraq War, George Bush, and Hillary Clinton.

This is an excerpt from a Carnegie Council talk on February 21, 2008. For the full video, audio, and transcript, go to carnegiecouncil.org

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Bernard Haykel: Saudi Arabia's Royal Family and the State

2008-10-16T09:30:54Z

Bernard Haykel discusses the workings of the Saudi State, which he describes as a series of parallel fiefdoms, led by princes. All politics are based on relationships and the Royal Family is key.

This is an excerpt from a Carnegie Council talk on February 21, 2008. For the full video, audio, and transcript, go to carnegiecouncil.org

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Riz Khan - Street Talk - 26 Mar 08

2008-10-14T11:30:14Z

This week on Riz Khan Street Talk, young men in Iran celebrate one of Iran's most ancient traditions: bonfire jumping competitions, which are part of a pre-Islamic New Year festival. Iranians were not deterred to celebrate the festival despite the rise of inflation and are stocking up on items that symbolise the festival, such as goldfish, wheat and garlic.

Also, the first hotel designed exclusively for women has opened in Saudi Arabia so women can pamper themselves away from the eyes of the country's male dominant society.

And lastly, Salvadorians are celebrating the traditional ceremony that clears their sins. The ceremony highlights the universal struggle of good and evil.

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Driving for Reform

2008-10-15T09:30:51Z

In Saudi Arabia, where woman are not allowed to drive, one female activist is on a quest for reform. She did it. She filmed it. She posted it on Youtube. And she's had more than 100,000 hits as Al Jazeera's Jamal Elshayyal explains.

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Saudi Arabia Bans Roses - Find Out Why?

2008-10-20T09:29:30Z

Watch the show at www.theyoungturks.com

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