GUWonder

Oh the irony, for a "narrow-minded, sensationalist" game can be played back so very easily by using narrow-minded, sensationalist approaches.

How far away is the "slave market" in Qatar from where the US and British military are operating in Qatar? The labor pool in Qatar are not slaves. Or since when do slaves ask their loved ones back home to join them in their place of "captivity" and become "slaves"? [The talk of "slaves" in Qatar today is an insult to the memory of those who have been or are subjected to real slave trades, where even the children of slaves were not free; but that implicit downplaying of historical atrocities on a global scale by focusing on "slave labor" elsewhere is rather expected from some.]

Lots of people who have had a drink of alcohol wander Dubai's malls without getting arrested. It's when people disturb the peace or otherwise engage in disorderly conduct -- something that may get people arrested in the US -- that drinking alcohol may be part of the picture in charges pursued in Dubai.

Take some prescribed or OTC US medicines to Japan, and a person could be arrested for customs violations in Japan. Do we really need to go into how much more or less likely someone is to be killed by US law enforcement weaponry than by Dubai police?

Renounce US citizenship -- if you can even afford to do so -- and you may be a "slave" to Uncle Sam's tax man for years to come and threatend with prison or even prison rape if not "compliant" in a manner satisfactory to Uncle Sam.

Visit some websites while in the US, and the US may put a person on a blacklist of sorts. That's even worse than being denied access to the websites.

When these are the kind of arguments being relied upon by the US3 fans and/or opponents of "the Arabs" or "the Muslims", it just speaks to the desperate poverty of the argument being used against the GCC3.

cmd320

I take it you don't utilize a smartphone or shop for products from Asia in a store like Walmart then either. After all, there's plenty of "slave-labor" that go into the manufacturing of such items.

I think people have forgotten the definition of what slavery actually is, or tend to take stances on when convenient for them. Don't believe everything you read online/see on the news. Most of it is about as fictional as your typical sitcom.

GUWonder

Of course not, as no one buys ONG from the GCC players.

Can't buy things so cheaply in a store when a person can't use oil to get there to buy products and/or to get products delivered to a store or other place where the buyer may take physical possession of purchased goods.

Can't drive or fly so cheaply without GCC ONG on the market.

Mauibaby2008

The "slaves" from countries like India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, etc make much more than they would ever dream of making in their home countries.

GUWonder

Indeed, and rather often they try to help their relatives and friends from their home country to follow in their footsteps and head to Qatar or the UAE for work. While there are examples of employers in Qatar treating employees horribly and even of hazardous work conditions, that isn't unique to "Arab" employers or work in the GCC.

rankourabu

Says he typing this from his iphone/smartphone/laptop made by 'slave' labour in Asia...

I guess when there are no real arguments to be made against the ME3, one can always resort to "slavery" and "subsidies" and "9.11" like the CEO of Delta did.

DonCarpenter

And here come the tu quoque fallacies.

Kagehitokiri

its kind of bogus when problematic laws/etc only come up when it impacts person/business personally

like boycott of brunei-owned dorchester hotels, but not qatar-owned hotels
for the sole reason that dorchester hotels in LA are (still) celebrity hangouts

in other words, comments here that have some implication that ME3 are the only countries with problems
either be consistent, or dont start endless critiques with silly motives (in this case discussing airlines)

baccarat_king

My biggest issues with KLM and Air France is that there is lots of old (business class) product floating around. In addition, for example, KLM has a so many different products. The new 787-9 will be 1-2-1, the new 777 WBC is 2-2-2. Still lots of old 777s and A330s. Similar situation at Air France.

You can say what you want about Delta, but the facts are since February 2014 they have been 100% Delta One (business class) 1-2-1 on their international wide body fleet. Neither UA or AA can say that. And, even stellar airlines like EK have some sub-par business class configurations on some of their wide body long-haul planes.

I'm sort of a consistency nut, so I do believe from an operational perspective it's pretty great that Delta was able to standardize like that. Now, I don't really like the Delta 1-2-1 seats on the 767s; but the A330s and 777s are quite nice. (I can't speak to the 747, but I do believe it is the same as the 777 with exception to the 747 upper deck which is a 1-1 configuration).

cmd320

The problem with DL, outside of soft product and complete lack of an F cabin of course, is that the bulk of their intercontinental fleet is 767s with coffin J. Sure if the fleet was primarily 777 and 747 that would be a different story, but unless you're going to NRT, AMS, or CDG, you're likely to get stuck on a 767, and I really hate those up front.

baccarat_king

Agree, but a Delta 767 1-2-1 "coffin" is still better than 2-3-2 if you get stuck in the middle on an Air France or KLM 777 (that has not been modified). With that being said, 1A on the 767 is agreeable with me.

I think a lot has to do with size/height also. If you are very tall; the Delta 767s in Delta One can be a bigger problem. Short, not as much of a problem.

Edit to add : don't forget the A330s, those are my favorite in Delta One. Delta has quite a few of those, inherited from Northwest.

edgewood49

If your short any bird works !! I am tall so DL is an issue

BRITINJAPAN3

I have many times had a few drinks and wandered Dubia, its not a problem, as long as you dont cause offence its not agaiants any law.

Dinking or eating outside ( in public ) is of course offensive to those fasting during daylight hours in Ramadam, doe this give you a problem ? You can eat and drink in many places if you need to !

If you viist ANY country its your choice but of course you should respect local laws and cuture.

Can you walk down a US street chugging a beer and not risk arrest ??
Can you have a beer on the beach ? Can you have a smoke ANYWHERE ?

I agree that there are labour abuses in Qatar, dont quite see how flying QR promotes this.

I am assuming you are a US citizen and I am afraid normally this type of ignorance and attitude that "if its different from the US then its wrong" is typically US.

edgewood49

Good post and on point, like any country if you don't make an ... of yourself your fine, in Dubai there are many places to buy and consume beer etc. remember it's Their Country so let's not submit them to our way of life

cmd320

Absolutely, spot on by the OP. It's all relative to ones point of view.