“IT’S BUSINESS AS USUAL, GENTS!” (weekly poem)

“IT’S BUSINESS AS USUAL, GENTS!”

Despite the sanctimonious outcry from the West over the murder of Jamal

Kashoggi in the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul (and mutterings over Yemen)

we will continue to trade with Saudi Arabia—especially in the arms market.

The Western Nations will concur,

With a two-faced pretence;

But never fear, Prince Salman, Sir,

“It's business as usual, Gents!”

As part of this we won’t confer,

At one of your events; (1)

But never fear, Prince Salman, Sir,

“It's business as usual, Gents!”

The arms we flog you, we aver,

Are just for your defence;

But never fear, Prince Salman, Sir,

“It's business as usual, Gents!”

They’re used in Yemen to deter,

It makes logistic sense;

But never fear, Prince Salman, Sir,

“It's business as usual, Gents!”

We recognise deaths do occur,

But we'd lose Pounds and pence;

But never fear, Prince Salman, Sir,

“It's business as usual, Gents!”

We know what arms sales do incur,

But profits are immense;

So never fear, Prince Salman, Sir,

“It's business as usual, Gents!”

(1) The October Riyadh Trade Conference.

© Richard Layton