| doug redshirt | 22 Jan 2015 5:00 p.m. PST |
And most of the brothers are just as old, this will be interesting. |
| Lion in the Stars | 22 Jan 2015 8:52 p.m. PST |
Apparently his successor is "only" 80. We'll see how long the Saudis remain friends of the US… |
| cwlinsj | 22 Jan 2015 9:00 p.m. PST |
Unless the House of Saud gets.toppled, they'll stay friendly with the West. They need US arms more than we need their oil at this point, especially with Yemen just next door. |
| doug redshirt | 22 Jan 2015 9:07 p.m. PST |
Sooner or later that generation will be gone and then what? One man created Saudi Arabia and it has been his sons that have led the country. Can anyone see a power struggle coming up soon when they have to pick a grandson or great grandson from one of the brothers? |
| cwlinsj | 22 Jan 2015 9:14 p.m. PST |
Best thing about the hundreds of princes vying for future rule is that they've all been corrupted by the West. I had a Saudi Prince live on my floor freshman year of college, biggest coke-head I ever met. |
| zippyfusenet | 23 Jan 2015 5:53 a.m. PST |
This could get verrry interestink. I wonder whether the new king will continue pumping for $50 USD barrel oil, or will reverse that policy? To cement alliances with the west, especially with the US, the new King should be a moderate. But it's likely that local rebels will attack him from the right, for being a corrupt kuffar-loving apostate. To gain real support from his own population, he'll need to stake out an extreme right-wing position himself, like old Saud ibn Saud did, and be the most beardy, puritan, takfiri, Wahabbi Guardian of the Holy Cities that anyone ever saw. I wonder who Erdogan's preferred candidate might be? |
| Bangorstu | 23 Jan 2015 6:01 a.m. PST |
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. I'm not sure, but I think the Suaudis have worked out their succession laws for when they run out of Sauds' sons. They do, after all, live in a volatile parish. Best to have this sort of thing written down. |
| jpattern2 | 23 Jan 2015 6:57 a.m. PST |
King Lear isn't just a play. Very few kingdoms and empires outlast the first King or Emperor by more than a generation or two. |
 Legion 4  | 23 Jan 2015 8:57 a.m. PST |
Be real interesting to see if the Saudi radicalized islamists take advantage of this. But I doubt they will and if so, they will probably be put down … Which may be a good thing. As they say, "It is good to be King !" |
| Lion in the Stars | 23 Jan 2015 10:08 a.m. PST |
King Lear isn't just a play. Very few kingdoms and empires outlast the first King or Emperor by more than a generation or two. And even the few that do outlast the first king/emperor only seem to last ~100 years of steady-state before they collapse. Yes, I know I've stated earlier that empires tend to last 400 years, but that's ~200 years of expansion, ~100 years of steady state, and ~100 years of decline. Be real interesting to see if the Saudi radicalized islamists take advantage of this. But I doubt they will and if so, they will probably be put down … Which may be a good thing. As they say, "It is good to be King !" Yeah, if the Wahhabis get too uppity things will get … interesting. |
| Legion 4 | 23 Jan 2015 2:19 p.m. PST |
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| GeoffQRF | 23 Jan 2015 2:40 p.m. PST |
I doubt anything dramatic is going to happen, as it has merely passed to another of the sons (who was already heavily involved). The interesting part will happen when the last of the brothers dies. Or… anyone seen Stardust?… ignore the film, but think of the brothers… ;-) |
| Deadone | 23 Jan 2015 4:08 p.m. PST |
Be real interesting to see if the Saudi This is a country of radicalised Islamists. They already rule the place. House of Saud is nothing without the Wahhabist consent The royals can live decadent lifestyles but the people's lives are already controlled by laws on par with Islamic State. |
| Deadone | 23 Jan 2015 4:08 p.m. PST |
The interesting part will happen when the last of the brothers dies. Totally agree. I suspect at some stage it's going to get quite Ottoman – the strongest brother annihilates all his other brothers and cousins. Annd given how many wives and kids these guys have, that could get bloody. |
| Whatisitgood4atwork | 24 Jan 2015 3:20 p.m. PST |
'This is a country of radicalised Islamists.' I remember one escapee, a Western woman who married into the clan and later fled, who described them as, 'The Taliban with Mercedes.' Looked for a link to the original quote, but couldn't find one. |
| Legion 4 | 25 Jan 2015 10:10 a.m. PST |
Much of what has happened and is coming to light supports what both of you have said … And I tend to very much agree … |
| Cacique Caribe | 27 Jan 2015 10:31 a.m. PST |
Have you guys submitted your essays to the DOD on the late Saudi king? link I'm not sure what the deadline is though. :) Dan |
