Posted on 04/29/2005 11:01:02 AM PDT by HAL9000
Riyadh, 29 April (AKI) - Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah's visit to the United States this week to discuss oil matters with President George W. Bush, took place amid growing speculation back home that the bed-ridden King Fahd's condition has worsened with the monarch slipping out of conciousness. Speculation is rife among Riyadh's ruling elite of Fahd's clinical death - but even if this were true, any official announcement would delayed until a final decision on Fahd's successor has been taken. Sources close to the Saudi royal family told Adnkronos International about the "suspicious" disappearance of King Fahd from public scene in the last ten days. At the same time, the sources have noted frantic activity involving the Seven Sudaris - the seven sons of King Abdul Aziz's wife, who hailed from Saudi Arabia's Sudari tribe, around whom the succession question revolves - King Fahd and Defence Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz are two of the most powerful Sudari sevens.Crown Prince Abdullah - who is Fahd's half brother - has long been touted to ascend the throne, but well placed sources maintain that there is resistance from other Sudari sevens members who favour closer ties with the West, something which Abdullah, who is very popular among Saudi religious circles, seems reluctant to cultivate. However, past efforts to promote the more Western-friendly defence minister Prince Sultan as Crown Prince instead of Abdullah failed because of division among the Sudaris.
Abdullah seems likely to remain the main beneficiary of internal Sudari squabbling, and already three years ago, he set up a Royal Council including all the 65 sons of the late King Abdul Aziz to settle all disputes related to the monarchy.
It is believed that Abdullah is more acceptable to the majority of the Royal Council members than any other candidate. Hower, the succession is unlikely to be smooth and a new phase of conflict could start in oil-rich Saudi Arabia, also a strategic hub in the war against terrorism given the Saudi origins of most of the September 11, 2001 hijackers, and Osama bin Laden is thought to have many supporters in the country's military and religious establishments.
How could they tell?
How can they tell?
Abdullah is a terrorist, and Bush seems to want to be his best buddy.
We attacked the wrong country.
Uh oh.. Let the squabbling begin!
It's a tie, ladies & gentlemen!
Does King Fahd have a living will???!!! LOL
Pull his feeding tube.
The only thing I agreed with in 9-11 was the point Moore made that NONE of the hijackers were actually from afghanistan. I always wondered why we get so cozy with people we know will cut our throats when we get just close enough.
I guess we'll need to gather around Mecca and wait for the white smoke.
He's dead Jim!
He's not dead until they say he's dead. In the meantime, he's . . . not dead.
--as opposed to alive.
His tent remained flat.
Good riddance, is all I have to say.
If Saudi Crown Prince 'Abdullah is selected, speculation is his reign will be short.
http://www.theestimate.com/public/012502c.html
We attacked the wrong country.
Yes he is, but we needed to take care of Saddam too. The Saudis, I'm sure things are going on behind the scenes, a little hand-holding with that camel-lover Abdullad notwithstanding.
ping
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer
He has or had an attitude of disdain for Westerners. But, maybe being Sultan requires an amount of disdain.
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