05-06-2014, 08:23 AM
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
March 12, 2013
Remarks by President Obama and His Majesty Sultan of Brunei Darussalam After a Bilateral Meeting | The White House
Oval Office
11:54 A.M. EDT
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, it is a great pleasure to welcome my good friend, His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei. The Sultan and I had the opportunity to get to know each other from a series of multilateral meetings, particularly the ASEAN East Asia Summit meeting. He is a key leader in the Southeast Asia region but also widely respected around the world.
His Majesty himself has led his country for 40 years now and he's gone through nine U.S. Presidents. I won't ask him which one was his favorite -- (laughter) -- but our interest in having a strong, peaceful, prosperous Asia Pacific region is something that we share.
So, overall, I'm very grateful for His Majesty's outstanding leadership and his friendship. I'm glad that he's had a chance to visit. He got here yesterday and flew in his own 747, meaning he actually piloted it himself. I think he's probably the only head of state in the world who flies a 747 himself. And so in case Air Force One pilots have problems, we know who to consult. (Laughter.)
And my understanding is tomorrow he's going to have an opportunity to take his family up to New York, where we're going to encourage him to do some shopping because we want to continue to strengthen the U.S. economy. (Laughter.)
So, Your Majesty, it's wonderful to see you. Thank you so much.
(above redacted from the article)
I'm just wondering if Obama will have any comments about his dear friend's latest actions:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/01/world/asia...index.html
(CNN) -- Brunei has become the first East Asian country to adopt sharia law, despite widespread condemnation from international human rights groups.
Brunei adopts sharia law amid international outcry - CNN.com
The Islamic criminal law is set to include punishments such as flogging, dismemberment and death by stoning for crimes such as rape, adultery and sodomy. The religious laws will operate alongside the existing civil penal code.
During a ceremony Wednesday morning, the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, announced the commencement of the first phase of the sharia-based penal code, according to the government's official website.
The oil-rich kingdom, located on the island of Borneo, has a population of just 412,000 people. The country already follows a more conservative Islamic rule than neighboring Muslim-dominated countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, and has implemented strict religiously-motivated laws, such as the banning of the sale of alcohol.
A family pleads for jailed blogger
London group aims to enforce Sharia law
Stringent laws
In response to the new set of laws, human rights group Amnesty International said that it will "take the country back to the dark ages."
"It (the law) makes a mockery of the country's international human rights commitments and must be revoked immediately," Amnesty's regional deputy director Rupert Abbott said in a statement released after the announcement.
Most parts of the new Islamic code will apply to both Muslims and non-Muslims, affecting people from the Christian and Buddhist communities. Around 70 percent of people in Brunei are Malay Muslims, while the remainder of the population are of Chinese or other ethnic descent.
The Sultan, who is also the Prime Minister, first announced the law in October 2013. As per its provisions, sexual offenses such as rape, adultery and sodomy will be considered punishable acts for Muslims. Consensual sex between homosexuals will also be criminalized, with death by stoning the prescribed punishment.
In announcing the implementation of sharia law, the government website quoted the Sultan as saying that his government "does not expect other people to accept and agree with it, but that it would suffice if they just respect the nation in the same way that it also respects them."
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
March 12, 2013
Remarks by President Obama and His Majesty Sultan of Brunei Darussalam After a Bilateral Meeting | The White House
Oval Office
11:54 A.M. EDT
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, it is a great pleasure to welcome my good friend, His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei. The Sultan and I had the opportunity to get to know each other from a series of multilateral meetings, particularly the ASEAN East Asia Summit meeting. He is a key leader in the Southeast Asia region but also widely respected around the world.
His Majesty himself has led his country for 40 years now and he's gone through nine U.S. Presidents. I won't ask him which one was his favorite -- (laughter) -- but our interest in having a strong, peaceful, prosperous Asia Pacific region is something that we share.
So, overall, I'm very grateful for His Majesty's outstanding leadership and his friendship. I'm glad that he's had a chance to visit. He got here yesterday and flew in his own 747, meaning he actually piloted it himself. I think he's probably the only head of state in the world who flies a 747 himself. And so in case Air Force One pilots have problems, we know who to consult. (Laughter.)
And my understanding is tomorrow he's going to have an opportunity to take his family up to New York, where we're going to encourage him to do some shopping because we want to continue to strengthen the U.S. economy. (Laughter.)
So, Your Majesty, it's wonderful to see you. Thank you so much.
(above redacted from the article)
I'm just wondering if Obama will have any comments about his dear friend's latest actions:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/01/world/asia...index.html
(CNN) -- Brunei has become the first East Asian country to adopt sharia law, despite widespread condemnation from international human rights groups.
Brunei adopts sharia law amid international outcry - CNN.com
The Islamic criminal law is set to include punishments such as flogging, dismemberment and death by stoning for crimes such as rape, adultery and sodomy. The religious laws will operate alongside the existing civil penal code.
During a ceremony Wednesday morning, the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, announced the commencement of the first phase of the sharia-based penal code, according to the government's official website.
The oil-rich kingdom, located on the island of Borneo, has a population of just 412,000 people. The country already follows a more conservative Islamic rule than neighboring Muslim-dominated countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, and has implemented strict religiously-motivated laws, such as the banning of the sale of alcohol.
A family pleads for jailed blogger
London group aims to enforce Sharia law
Stringent laws
In response to the new set of laws, human rights group Amnesty International said that it will "take the country back to the dark ages."
"It (the law) makes a mockery of the country's international human rights commitments and must be revoked immediately," Amnesty's regional deputy director Rupert Abbott said in a statement released after the announcement.
Most parts of the new Islamic code will apply to both Muslims and non-Muslims, affecting people from the Christian and Buddhist communities. Around 70 percent of people in Brunei are Malay Muslims, while the remainder of the population are of Chinese or other ethnic descent.
The Sultan, who is also the Prime Minister, first announced the law in October 2013. As per its provisions, sexual offenses such as rape, adultery and sodomy will be considered punishable acts for Muslims. Consensual sex between homosexuals will also be criminalized, with death by stoning the prescribed punishment.
In announcing the implementation of sharia law, the government website quoted the Sultan as saying that his government "does not expect other people to accept and agree with it, but that it would suffice if they just respect the nation in the same way that it also respects them."
Not me. Are you? Follow along, TVg. 
Hey, guess what... we went to a Cinco de Mayo party last night!!! And... we drank adult beverages!!! 
And... we had a freaking blast with our friends! What did you do? I mean, besides spending countless hours (alone) combing the interwebs for Anti-Obama bullsh*t?!?! 