Succession in a Land of Kingdom Come, Or Maybe Not………
“Sultan's return changes calculations on the political dynamics of the Saudi royal family, the House of Saud. Sultan is one of the so-called Sudairi princes, the largest and most powerful group of full brothers among the twenty surviving sons of Ibn Saud, the founder of the modern kingdom. Many of King Abdullah's policy innovations since 2005, when he assumed the throne upon the death of King Fahd (another Sudairi), have been interpreted as attempts to outflank the Sudairis by spreading power to other parts of the royal family. Despite these efforts, his March appointment of Nayef (also a Sudairi) suggests the limits of Abdullah's powers as well as a fight back by the Sudairi brothers, who also include Riyadh governor Prince Salman and the vice ministers of defense and interior. Succession is a growing issue because King Abdullah, now eighty-six, is the oldest-ever surviving Saudi monarch. Although apparently in good health himself, the state of Abdullah's half brothers (he has no full brothers) is of increasing concern: five are in their eighties; most are in their seventies. Last month, eighty-one-year-old Prince Mitab resigned without explanation as minister of local government, suggesting ill health. Prince Mishal, eighty-three and head of the Allegiance Council notionally charged with selecting a future crown prince, has just returned home from unspecified medical treatment in Beirut………….. As defense minister since 1962, Sultan likely is particularly concerned about the Yemeni tension……....”
Defense Minister, Minister of Aviation, Inspector General, and 'First' Deputy Prime Minister (not sure who is the 'last' deputy PM). The ‘Inspector General’ part always cracks me up: I love old Danny Kaye films. As for being defense minister since 1962: clearly these people don’t believe in term limits, nor do most Arab oligarchs and potentates……...
Cheers and Happy Holidays
mhg
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