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Silicon Valley Runs on Saudi (2019)

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Re: Silicon Valley Runs on Saudi (2019)

#81

Post by SuoDuanDao »

im3w1l wrote: post #20
randompwd wrote: post #4

2019.

(I upvoted you for adding context). The reason this is being brought up right now is because of Biden escalating tensions with Saudia Arabia over the murder of Khashoggi. E.g. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/25/politics/biden-us-saudi-r...

Interesting. Relevant to the same story, it appears the Biden administration is pulling support for Saudi Arabia's offensive in Yemen. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/4/biden-to-announce-a-...

I wonder, since this comes hot on the heels of a peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, whether the US is in the process of pulling support for its client states in the region.

Re: Silicon Valley Runs on Saudi (2019)

#82

Post by loceng »

neom wrote: post #11

When I was fundraising for my startup, after pitching I always emailed to ask about the LPs and if there's any Saudi/oil money in the pool. More than 10 firms just ghosted me after that email, potentially because they think it's poor form to ask about LPs. (edit:We were still able to raise over $3.5MM seed though, so don't necessarily let asking put you off.)

Because fuck ethics, right?

Re: Silicon Valley Runs on Saudi (2019)

#83

Post by cbozeman »

leesalminen wrote: post #74
chaganated wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plenty of anti-war friends from Maine & Connecticut penalized in that sweep. I doubt that the Russians have converted all of our old hippies into spies.

Pretty soon we’ll all be Russians!

Служу Советскому Союзу

Re: Silicon Valley Runs on Saudi (2019)

#84

Post by rightbyte »

WalterGR wrote: post #57
DSingularity wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who undermined faith in NATO?

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-twitter-content/twitter-r... Twitter removes hundreds of accounts it says are linked to Iran, Russia, Armenia "...Twitter said 100 accounts with Russian ties were removed for amplifying narratives that undermined faith in NATO and targeted the United States and the European Union...” Some are trying to turn this into a “Twitter censorship” story rather than a “Twitter fighting natio…

How do Twitter know the difference between a russian that doesn't like NATO and a state founded undercover PR consultant? Banning accounts on the combo of nationality and polical beliefs is shady.

Re: Silicon Valley Runs on Saudi (2019)

#85

Post by WalterGR »

chaganated wrote: post #68
WalterGR wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-twitter-content/twitter-r... Twitter removes hundreds of accounts it says are linked to Iran, Russia, Armenia "...Twitter said 100 accounts with Russian ties were removed for amplifying narratives that undermined faith in NATO and targeted the United States and the European Union...” Some are trying to turn this into a “Twitter censorship” story rather than a “Twitter fighting natio…

Plenty of anti-war friends from Maine & Connecticut penalized in that sweep. I doubt that the Russians have converted all of our old hippies into spies.

Could you link to your friends in Twitter’s archive of state-linked information operations discussed here: https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2021/disclosin... ?

Not only would that be very interesting to see, but I’m sure Twitter would like to improve their anti-foreign-propaganda efforts - slash it’s an opportunity to embarrass Twitter.

Re: Silicon Valley Runs on Saudi (2019)

#86

Post by tokai »

tasogare wrote: post #61
baybal2 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Calling a country "Middle Eastern North Korea" in the first sentence isn't really conducive to a nice intellectual discussion on the merits of taking Saudi investment though. Calling Saudi kingdom the Middle Eastern North Korea is the best what you can do to conduct a "nice intellectual discussion" you want. Intellectual discussion is calling things their real names. It is a total intellectual dishonesty, and hypoc…

How are you justifying that term? I see nothing (geographically, politically, culturally, economically, historically, religiously, diplomatically, etc.) that could justify it even in the slightest.

Both counties are hereditary totalitarian states that kills off political opposition, are top in the world regarding human trafficking, sponsor terrorism, and generally have the worst human rights records.

Re: Silicon Valley Runs on Saudi (2019)

#87

Post by tyingq »

f6v wrote: post #78
baybal2 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Calling a country "Middle Eastern North Korea" in the first sentence isn't really conducive to a nice intellectual discussion on the merits of taking Saudi investment though. Calling Saudi kingdom the Middle Eastern North Korea is the best what you can do to conduct a "nice intellectual discussion" you want. Intellectual discussion is calling things their real names. It is a total intellectual dishonesty, and hypoc…

Keep in mind that North Korea hasn’t been bombing anyone on a massive scale in the last 50 years.

I think the reference is about killing your own citizens on foreign soil.

Re: Silicon Valley Runs on Saudi (2019)

#88

Post by gumby »

HenryKissinger wrote: post #22
neom wrote: post #11

When I was fundraising for my startup, after pitching I always emailed to ask about the LPs and if there's any Saudi/oil money in the pool. More than 10 firms just ghosted me after that email, potentially because they think it's poor form to ask about LPs. (edit:We were still able to raise over $3.5MM seed though, so don't necessarily let asking put you off.)

What's a LP?

You got a couple of technical replies (which are correct) but the answer what you are looking for is that they are the VC’s customers.

They pay the investment firm to invest their money, typically 2% of funds invested annually plus 20% of any realized profits.

Re: Silicon Valley Runs on Saudi (2019)

#89

Post by jdxcode »

simonh wrote: post #9
waynesonfire wrote: post #5

... what is the problem here? Investment is being made and people are better off for it. Isn't this how trickle down works?

The problem is these companies often claim liberal, progressive values and that they are forces for social good. On the other hand they are flattering and fawning to a murdering oppressive brute in person. It's an exasperating situation to be in. We need Saudi oil so we need to be able to work with them, but they are a grievous threat to freedoms and civil society globally. It's not just MBS either, look at the way g…

> We need Saudi oil

How much do we need oil vs wanting to sell them weapons?

Re: Silicon Valley Runs on Saudi (2019)

#90

Post by rayiner »

pyrophane wrote: post #73

I am not looking forward to the rehabilitation of MBS's image that will take place over the next couple of years. After Khashoggi was killed, some prominent people took a bit of stand and pulled out of the Future Investment Conference. The narrative there was clear: we don't do business with people who murder journalists. So now, the US has essentially confirmed it: yeah, MBS did in fact have that journalist killed.…

I assume it’ll be similar to what’s happening with China.
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