Middle East Focus: Saudi Game of Musical Chairs Resumes, Moving the Bins Around, Goatees and NFL…………..

Arabia Deserta

Saudi Game of Musical Chairs Resumes, Moving the Bins Around, Goatees and NFL…………..

Rattlesnake Ridge

BFF

Arab media report that King Abdulllah Bin Abdulaziz has appointed Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz, current governor of Riyadh, to replace the late Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz in his non-crown-princely jobs. He is now the new minister of defense and aviation as well as Inspector General (no need to mention Danny Kaye here). He is also now the second deputy prime minister, meaning he is next in line after Nayef for the throne. Khaled Bin Sultan was appointed deputy defense minister, thus keeping the sons of Sultan in control of that ministry in the Saudi tradition of handing top jobs and ministries down to their children. Nayef’s son Mohammed Bin Nayef (Naif) Bin Abdulaziz was appointed minister for security affairs (wtf that be since it is a new cabinet position).
All the appointees are sons or grandsons of the late old king Ibn Saud who re-established the dynasty. They now all have the regulation jet black goatee. The one exception is Bandar Bin Sultan who has let his goatee go gray, a very un-Saudi conduct. This may draw some suspicion toward him. But Bandar is now even richer than he was last week, so he can afford the fine (sort of like NFL players). By eschewing the jet black hair dye (Kiwi?) Bandar may be signaling that he has scaled back his ambitions for now. The al-Saud royals need to start worrying when Bandar shows up some day with every hair on his body (and face) dyed black.
Meanwhile, the potentates may also be looking for a royal who has no goatee, in the interest of reform and diversity. Apparently they are having a hard time locating a royal without a goatee, one who is over fifteen and a Bin, not a woman (most royal women have no goatees).
Cheers
mhg

m.h.ghuloum@gmail.com