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Arabia
US allows diplomats to leave Saudi
2003-12-18
The United States has said it would allow its non-essential diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia due to increased security concerns and advised US citizens in the country to consider leaving.
Something to do with the 300 hard boys the princes are springing?
"Due to security concerns, the Department of State has authorised the departure of family members and non-emergency employees of the US embassy and consulates (in Saudi Arabia) on a voluntary basis," the department said on Wednesday. "Private American citizens should evaluate their own security situations and should consider departing the country," it said in a travel warning that replaced an existing alert issued just nine days earlier.
"Otherwise, please make an appointment at your earliest convenience to update next of kin information and organ donor cards."
"The US government continues to receive indications of terrorist threats aimed at American and Western interests, including the targeting of transportation and civil aviation," the department said.
Posted by:Fred Pruitt

#5  That's a pretty hefty deposit. To a certain extent every country has positive and negative elements that effect its attractiveness for business. In the US the negative business elements are insurance costs and government over-regulation. If you use a metaphor of cancer or leprosy to represent these negative elements, then Saudi Arabia is a staggering zombie with one of it's arms about to fall off.
Posted by: Super Hose   2003-12-18 2:04:06 PM  

#4  SH - heh. Like most leases, including those in the Real World, subletting is usually prohibited... but I was thinking about how you'd get anyone to do it even if it was allowed. At gunpoint, perhaps!

Did you know that you have to pre-pay the entire lease? Shortest one I saw was 3 months, and it was a rarity only costing 27K SR (approx $7,200 USD @ 3.74 SR/USD) - and I had to pay the whole thing up front. My last place had a minimum lease of 6 months. Now, you may ask yourself, what incentive does the property owner / mgr have to keep you happy if you've prepaid? None. QED.
Posted by: .com   2003-12-18 1:01:52 PM  

#3  .com, can the evacuatees rent out their apartments in a time-share arrangement?
Posted by: Super Hose   2003-12-18 12:05:15 PM  

#2  Yep, Nayef's really got a handle on things. You betcha. The proof is that this evacuation order warden notice / travel warning is "voluntary", heh. The pro expat rule of thumb is: do what the Ambassador / Consul does. If he/she sends his/her family out - you do too. If he/she hauls ass, run over him/her on the way out. You can say "Excuse me!" at LAX Customs.
Posted by: .com   2003-12-18 11:59:32 AM  

#1  Wasn't there something here just the other day about SA becoming a tourist destination?
This should help advertise this vacationers paradise.:)
Posted by: Gasse Katze   2003-12-18 7:00:00 AM  

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