[no-to-illegals]

True, yet will toss out a possible ... saudi family has to treat their protectors the military exceptionally well (would think) to maintain the support of their military heads. You mentioned internal divisions within the saudi royal family. Think if a few of the royals decided to go to the evil side (for whatever reason) and paid some of their military leaders to create havoc through and via assassinations of family members. Say this did not actually happen but was made to look like it had happened. Now while this does not appear likely, would greed enter into and make this a situational possibility? Maybe not ... depends on how well paid everyone is with American and world money but the avenues into starting a fire within the house of saud does not look that difficult. Many want the house of saud to be history. One possible to set up conflict within the house ... maybe.

[no-to-illegals]

for some reason reports regarding Assad are being called greatly exaggerated ... http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/rumors-assad-shooting-highlights-syria-chaos-article-1.1297939 from four hours ago.

[SunkenCiv]

The royals have more in common with each other than with anyone else. There are a lot of them, and they have patronage-driven entourages, but there are nearly 20 million Saudis (and nearly 5 million “guest workers” who are generally treated abominably), and much of the oil patch is Shiite.