• Satire is dead when France honors the theocratic Saudi monarchy for “countering extremism and fighting terrorism” - Ben Norton
    http://www.salon.com/2016/03/08/satire_is_dead_when_france_honors_the_theocratic_saudi_monarchy_for_counterin

    Prince Mohammed bin Nayef received France’s Legion of Honor “for his great efforts in the region and the world in countering extremism and fighting terrorism,” the Saudi Press Agency revealed on March 6, two days after he and Hollande met at Élysée Palace.

    This is fascinating, considering the E.U. has quietly admitted that Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s leading sponsors of Islamic extremism.

    “Saudi Arabia has been a major source of financing to rebel and terrorist organisations since the 1970s,” writes the European Parliament in a 2013 report, adding, “countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait do too little to stop rich and conservative donors from financing terrorist organisations through charitable and religious institutions.”

    “The United States is well aware about the financing network starting from Arab countries and reaching terrorists organisations through charitable institutions,” the European Parliament report points out, drawing attention to similar statements made in secret by the U.S. government.