SAUDI ARABIA: KING FAHD CLINICALLY DEAD, SOURCES SAY

ADN Kronos (Italy) ^ | April 29, 2005

[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.

[LizardQueen]

"Weekend at Abduls" ?

LQ

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

I always wondered why we get so cozy with people we know will cut our throats when we get just close enough.

Because we need their oil. It's a drug addict-drug dealer relationship.

[American Quilter]

I always wondered why we get so cozy with people we know will cut our throats when we get just close enough.

It's because so many people can't grasp the concept of cause and effect.

[TWhiteBear]

Also, black smoke, explosions and gunfire can be expected.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

This is another historic turning point in the Middle East.

Fahd has been little more than a zombie for years. His incapacitation has paralyzed Saudi politics.

The logjam is about to break, and the newfound freedom in Iraq designates the direction in which it will flow.

God bless George Bush for having the guts to actually do something besides propound mealy-mouthed slogans about peace the way his predecessor did.

There are a lot of things I disagree with Dubya on, but his willingness to confront the problems in the Middle East and do something about them trumps everything, because it has truly changed the world for the better.

[American Quilter]

He's dead Jim!

LOL!

[American Quilter]

There are a lot of things I disagree with Dubya on, but his willingness to confront the problems in the Middle East and do something about them trumps everything, because it has truly changed the world for the better.

Hear hear! For that alone, President Bush deserves to be regarded as one of our greatest presidents.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

He's not dead until they say he's dead. In the meantime, he's . . . not dead. --as opposed to alive.

We won't know for sure until we open the box and see if the radioactive sample has decayed. Until then, Fahd is both dead and alive.

[adam_az]

PAGING JUDGE GREER....

[timtoews5292004]

I was thinking more along the lines of "abusive husband/ battered wife "he still loves me" " but I suppose that works, too.

[explodingspleen]

I suppose being king is the "superposition of states". ;)

[kinghorse]

'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.'

Yes, this is true. And Achmed Chalabi is a criminal of the highest order, a pawn of Iran, and uh the recently appointed Oil Minister of Iraq. What the h...?

Methinks appearances of disaffection between the US and her (true) allies in the ME is a necessary prerequisite to gaining "street cred" with the anti-USA A-rab street.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

I'd say Clinton had the "superposition" ability down pat. Always claiming to be in more than one place at the same time.

[Eva]

This explains Bush's hand hold with the Saudi Prince.

[Obadiah]

Crown Prince Abdullah - who is Fahd's half brother set up a Royal Council including all the 65 sons of the late King Abdul Aziz to settle all disputes related to the monarchy.

Wow. These guys are productive!

[jess35]

The Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah is 78 years old and obviously has difficulty walking, etc., as evidenced by President Bush having to hold his hand while negotiating the entry steps at Crawford.

Actually, it is quite normal and accepted behavior for men to hold hands and kiss each other in the ME. It is not at all uncommon to see men walking down the street holding hands. It's just one of the many cultural differences between the USA and the ME and parts of Europe.

[MonroeDNA]

Keep him alive for 15 years.

[TexasRepublic]

Actually, it is quite normal and accepted behavior for men to hold hands and kiss each other in the ME. It is not at all uncommon to see men walking down the street holding hands. It's just one of the many cultural differences between the USA and the ME and parts of Europe.

You never heard of San Fransicko?

[Majic]

The sound of long knives being sharpened in Saudi Arabia is audible even here.

Pass the popcorn, please.

[river rat]

One ideal scenario is for the Wahhabi Sect majority in Saudi Arabia - in cooperation with the Islamist Terrorist network, to overthrow and murder most of the House of Saud with the intent of becoming another Islamic State, fully controlled by the Mullahs.

THEN, our publicly acknowledged enemy would have Saudi Arabia as their "National Face" and subsequently a TARGET..

Then we go in, kick their ass and take the gas!

Semper Fi