Would Saudi Arabia not protect Jordan’s king? He is part of the family if I recall correctly, and look how they mobilized to crackdown on the protests in Bahrain when it looked like their monarchy would be overthrown.
In a sense, the kings have an advantage that Mubarak and Gaddafi didn’t. They stick together to preserve their own power and wealth.
The Saudis might not protect the Jordanian King if their empire was at risk.
Saudi Arabia better step up, or their kingdom is next.
I also note that the demand letter to Jordan’s king makes it sound like the M.B. wants to get this over with while Obama can still help.
If there is any connection between the two families I don’t think it is close. The Hashemite family for a long time ruled the Mecca-Medina region of Arabia, until they were kicked out by the Saudis. Fortunately for the Hashemites the British had given them Transjordan and Iraq to rule by then. (They lost Iraq in the 1958 revolt.) I think the Saudis came from a different part of Arabia to begin with.