Wikileaks Cable: The great Saudi tonic water drought of 2008-2009

[davidm]

http://wikileaks.org/cable/2009/02/09RIYADH233.html
This is an amusing read. Here’s an excerpt:

¶3. (SBU) When tonic water stocks began to run out around four months
ago local consumers, analysts, and restauranteurs told econoff they
expected the shortage to be temporary. But as the tonic drought
stretched from days, to weeks, to more than a month, fear grew that
the CPVPV and/or Saudi Customs was responsible. The Kingdom has a
notorious history of intrusive customs inspections and of capricious
seizures of goods deemed un-Islamic in the broadest sense. Although
those days seem to have passed, problems remain. For example one
embassy contact who imports children’s birthday paraphernalia (paper
plates and cups with princess/superhero imagery) said that she often
has major problems importing her products.

¶4. (SBU) (Note: The real reason this contact has such trouble is
that the most conservative Saudis oppose the celebration of
birthdays as un-Islamic; however, the reasons Customs officers cite
are typically more specific and bizarre. She said that during her
efforts to gain the release of her most recent shipment from
customs, she was told that Barbie (pictured on cups she hoped to
sell) was a Zionist figure, while pictures of Spiderman on paper
plates shooting webs really symbolized a crypto-Christian sign of
benediction. End note.)

http://wikileaks.org/cable/2009/02/09RIYADH233.html

[CalMeacham]

while pictures of Spiderman on paper
plates shooting webs really symbolized a crypto-Christian sign of
benediction.

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spider, go in Peace. Amen.

[davidm]

That’s the funniest part of it.

What also caught my attention was that the diplomatic community was so desperate for tonic water that they actually went looking for sources of quinine sulfate and, failing at that, searched for Cinchona trees. The HAD to have tonic water for their cocktails.

Maybe I just don’t understand because I don’t drink, but really, how desperate do you have to be for a specific cocktail that you actually go looking for raw materials in the wild?

[Larry_Mudd]

@davidm

Maybe I just don’t understand because I don’t drink, but really, how desperate do you have to be for a specific cocktail that you actually go looking for raw materials in the wild?

There’s a map for everything.

[Steken]

“With great powers come great respopeabilities.”

OK, I even groaned myself while writing that.

[davidm]

@Larry_Mudd

There’s a map for everything.

Is quinine even used as an anti-malarial any more? I was under the impression that the protozoan had evolved resistance.

[Capitaine_Zombie]

@davidm

Is quinine even used as an anti-malarial any more? I was under the impression that the protozoan had evolved resistance.

Must be relatively recent. I still remember having to swallow those foul testing pills every goddamn day.

[davidm]

Maybe it is still used, I don’t know. But the cable seems to be strictly describing it’s use as a flavoring agent in tonic water and not as a drug, so that’s a side issue.

[Simplicio]

@davidm

Is quinine even used as an anti-malarial any more? I was under the impression that the protozoan had evolved resistance.

There was a SD column on it a while back, apparently the amount of quinine in commercial tonic water isn’t high enough to be medicinal in anycase.

[davidm]

@Simplicio

There was a SD column on it a while back, apparently the amount of quinine in commercial tonic water isn’t high enough to be medicinal in anycase.

So, as I said, this is strictly about it’s use as a flavoring agent.

[Larry_Mudd]

Was meant more as a joke- I dont think g and t ever did the trick. According to James burke malaria also led to refrigeration. Wonders for tippling.

[davidm]

@Larry_Mudd

Was meant more as a joke- I dont think g and t ever did the trick. According to James burke malaria also led to refrigeration. Wonders for tippling.

I got that. I was just pointing out for those who are reading along that this thread isn’t about malaria treatments.

Now, can we all (myself included) please end the unintended malaria hijack and get back to our regularly scheduled thread?

[silenus]

Hey, don’t get all feverish about it. It’s not worth the sweat to try to get people to stop.