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>With Softbank playing such a big role I wonder if there is some component of incumbents playing this up to try to curb the influence of Softbank ?

Playing what up? The fact that Silicon Valley and their new "hey, just stay private!" mentality was heavily funded by blood/oil money?

Is this actually news to people that Saudi Arabia has done terrible things? Or does it only matter now that there's been a scandal?

Well, thank God for the scandal, then.

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The cynical part of me says it matters now because there are special interests that for one reason or another have an interest in reducing SA influence or want some concession from SA and in reality it has 0 to do with SA being a brutal absolute monarchy which it has being for a long time.

Be that as it may, it's good if being a brutal absolute monarchy is a liability you can be attacked for, even if those attacks only happen when there's someone on the other side.

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