Mobil Corporation has just announced that soaring oil prices have pushed its second-quarter earnings up to the highest-ever profit by a US company: The net income in the quarter rose to $11.68 billion, or $2.22 a share. Similar news is also coming from BP, Total and other oil majors. This shows that the Western economy — at least major companies and their shareholders — is benefiting from the rise in crude oil prices; not just the OPEC nations.

On the other hand, several leading Western banks have reported a loss of substantial annual income in 2007 and 2008 mainly due to write-offs involving bad loans made to customers lacking credit references. It needs to be stressed that these losses have nothing to do with the rise in oil prices; they are just bad decisions, either due to bad management or lack of alternate banking systems such as Islamic banking instruments, coming home to roost.

These facts must be well-presented and explained to the Western audience. They are discerning readers and can derive their own conclusions from the facts presented. The media of the GCC countries have a big job to do.

P.B.V. Rajan, Riyadh, published 6 August 2008

Jeddah roads

Hasan Hatrash’s report “City pumps millions to repave roads, but complaints galore” (July 29) proves the proverb, “Money is everything and money is not everything.” Whether you pump millions or billions, problems will not be solved unless they are addressed in time. These road works should have been done a long time ago. Jeddah is an important, perhaps the most important, city in the country. Its population has increased many times and, since cars are available on easy installments, there are more vehicles on the road than ever before. Add to this the Umrah visitors who take a break in Jeddah for shopping and sightseeing.

Please, municipality, we love Jeddah. We have been working here for many years. We want it to be the cleanest city in the country with good roads, playgrounds and parks in every locality. When this is done, it will be the duty of every citizen and expatriate to keep the city beautiful, and if anybody is found throwing anything on the road or sidewalks and not keeping it clean, the municipality should impose hefty fines on them.

Ather Shakeel, Jeddah, published 6 August 2008

World of conspiracies

I have a question for Sarah H.A., in response to her letter “Muslims and terrorism” (Aug. 2): Where did she gather all the information she was kind enough to give us in her letter?

How does she know who the people were causing those explosions and what their agenda was? All that one can deduce from her letter is that she is totally ignorant about the wicked conspirators operating in this world of ours.

S. Wasty, Jeddah, published 6 August 2008

Unsettled issues at Madinah - 1

I would like to thank Nora Abdul Aziz Al-Khereiji for her article “Unsettled issues at Madinah” (Aug. 1). Indeed, women worshippers have a tough time at the Prophet’s Mosque and something urgently needs to be done. I have just returned after performing Umrah and I too faced difficulty in entering the mosque at prayer times and because of the intensive search that takes place at the entrance. However, I am not against the ban on camera mobile phones. In Makkah, I have observed that people tend to just spend their time clicking photos to show off when they return home, instead of spending time in supplication and prayers.

Another thing about the Prophet’s Mosque is that when women are taken to the Rawdah in groups according to their country of origin, it is done in a biased and rude manner. First of all, because of time limits, women are in a hurry and rush in, push others away and fall on each other. Secondly, the country-type grouping seems very inconvenient.

When some pilgrims come late, they are not allowed entry as their nation’s time is over even though women from other countries can go in. Why are they prevented? Why the prohibition just because one is from a different country? The women police also are very rude.

Further, there are no signboards to show the timings of the Rawdah and also prayers. New pilgrims do not know the exact time and end up coming late. Some of them do not speak or understand Arabic and are unable to ask women officials and helpers for guidance or assistance. We would be so grateful if these inconveniences were avoided in the future. Most of the pilgrims come to Makkah or Madinah just once in their lifetime and want it to be a memorable event to be cherished for life.

Huzema, Riyadh, published 6 August 2008

Unsettled issues at Madinah - 2

Nora Al-Khereiji asked: “Why are mobile cameras banned in the women’s prayer area at the Prophet’s Mosque but allowed in the Grand Mosque? “

The answer is obvious. They are banned in the Prophet’s Mosque because it is totally segregated and women take off their veils while inside. Any woman who is serious about wearing the veil will find it an extreme insult to have her picture taken without her permission. As for the Grand Mosque, since there is no complete segregation, women don’t take off their veils. So their faces are not caught when pictures are taken. Simple.

Safoora Nana, Jeddah, published 6 August 2008

Land of smiles

The article “In the land of big smiles” by Aijaz Zaka Syed (Aug. 1) provided an excellent journalistic overview of the situation in Thailand, including the recent developments in its relationship with the Arab Muslim world, especially with the GCC countries. The implications of these developments could be profound for the Indian Ocean region, of which both Saudi Arabia and Thailand are important littoral countries.

The initiative taken by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to start a process of dialogue among all faiths is already beginning to bear fruit in Thailand. There are new efforts to bring about reconciliation between the Buddhist majority and Thailand’s Muslim Malay minorities, who need to have their valid grievances addressed.

The independent scientific research initiated in Thailand concerning halal food is most fascinating. The work may lead us to added knowledge about Judaic kosher food. This is a subject that needs further research regarding their related factors.

Jon Speller, New York, published 6 August 2008

Injured US soldiers

There was exhaustive coverage of Sen. Barack Obama’s tour of Europe, the highlight being his visit to Germany. However, there is one simple question I want to ask: Why was his entourage of journalists with their cameras not allowed to visit injured US soldiers in Germany? What is the Pentagon afraid of? The American public seeing gravely wounded Americans? Yet the Western press finds it easy to show Iraqi casualties and wounded.

Nick Mantey, United Kingdom, published 6 August 2008