On Thu, Dec 8, 2011 at 5:44 AM, Mahesh Murthy <[email protected]> wrote: > http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html
Somewhat dated as observed, and also debunked. http://www.thenational.ae/business/media/expat-takes-uk-journalist-johann-hari-to-task-over-portrayal-of-dubai Johann Hari also has a reputation for less than stellar journalism - plagiarism and self righteousness. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/sep/16/johann-hari-debacle http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-a-personal-apology-2354679.html That doesn't mean Dubai isn't a steaming pile of crap - it is so much of that, but the true story is not very unlike the comic from Tintin in America [0]. The Oil sheikhs have been kept rich and stupid, and the population poor and illiterate in order to allow the multi-generational plunder of the lands. An educated people start yelling for democracy, and fair sharing and equality and all of that - hardly good terms to make monopolistic returns on. The delicate balance of Israel versus the Arabs, the idiotic sheikhdoms, they all exist for a reason. Noam Chomsky among many other voices has been a rather loud critic of this, but it isn't like anyone takes notice [1] Read Ozymandias! [0] http://sawbonessurio.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/tintin-in-america-pp29.jpg [1] http://www.chomsky.info/interviews/197703--.htm
