That revolting despotism currently known as ‘Saudi’ Arabia is apparently interested in joining the WTO. The New York Sun is reporting (no link available) that, needless to say, the ‘Kingdom’ is hedging discussion about any application with numerous caveats. Unsurprisingly, this totalitarian state is, for example, not prepared to liberalize its ‘audio-visual’ sector. In addition, The Sun quotes Arab News as saying that Saudi Arabia will “not compromise its ‘unique status’ as the home of Islam’s holiest sites for the sake of joining the WTO”.

At this stage in the proceedings, it would be much more interesting to know whether the country’s government is prepared to take meaningful steps to change the country’s ‘status’ as a source of financial and ideological support for Islamic extremism. Until it does, this greedy, grasping and venomous regime should be told to shove off.