King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia dies at 90

[Winehole23]

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/a/abdullah_bin_abdul_aziz_alsaud/index.html?inline=nyt-per), who came to the throne in old age and earned a reputation as a cautious reformer even as the Arab Spring revolts toppled heads of state and Islamic State militants threatened the Muslim establishment that he represented, died on Friday, according to a statement on state television. He was 90.


The Royal Court said in a statement broadcast across the kingdom that the king had died early Friday. The royal court did not disclose the exact cause of death. An announcement quoted by the official Saudi Press Agency (http://www.spa.gov.sa/viewphotonews.php?id=1312349&pic=000-1411837011420216445371.jpg) said the king had a lung infection when he was admitted on Dec. 31 to a Riyadh hospital (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/03/world/middleeast/saudi-king-abdullah-is-hospitalized-with-pneumonia.html).


The king’s death adds yet another element of uncertainty in a region already overwhelmed by crises and as Saudi Arabia is itself in a struggle with Iran for regional dominance.


The royal family moved quickly to assure a smooth transition of power in a nation that is a close ally of the United States, the world’s largest exporter of oil (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/energy-environment/oil-petroleum-and-gasoline/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier) and the religious center of the Islamic faith. In a televised statement, Abdullah’s brother, Crown Prince Salman, announced that the king had died and that he had assumed the throne.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/23/world/middleeast/king-abdullah-who-nudged-saudi-arabia-forward-dies-at-90.html

[baseline bum]

Fuck him and fuck Saudi Arabia. LOL calling them our allies.

[Winehole23]

be interesting to see what happens next. a struggle for power in Saudi Arabia could have significant regional and international repercussions.

[boutons_deux]

Current guy is 80, dementia

After him, the next guy could support Wahhabi extremists seriously

[Winehole23]

Not much different there. Saudi Arabia has been the major source of support for Wahhabi extremism for a long time.

[Winehole23]

would've made far more sense to retaliate against Saudi Arabia after 9/11, than Afghanistan or Iraq tbh.

[Winehole23]

(which, for the record, I would also have been against.)

[ChumpDumper]

Yeah, it sucks. The ruling family has to "keep it real" by tolerating Wahhabists and we have to act like it isn't happening.

[SnakeBoy]

Yeah, it sucks. The ruling family has to "keep it real" by tolerating Wahhabists and we have to act like it isn't happening.

Why do we have to act like it isn't happening?

[Winehole23]

overly simplified, but there is a two word reason: Saudi Aramco

[hater]

Why do we have to act like it isn't happening?

because if we don't they'll run to align with Russia or China which would start WWIII

"keep it real"

[boutons_deux]

Why do we have to act like it isn't happening?

BigOil defines US foreign policy

[Pelicans78]

would've made far more sense to retaliate against Saudi Arabia after 9/11, than Afghanistan or Iraq tbh.

Afghanistan made perfect sense. Bin Laden and Al Qaeda were behind the attack and the main guys were located in Afghan at the time. Iraq was stupid.

[lefty]

Fuck him and fuck Saudi Arabia. LOL calling them our allies.
well you gladly took their money in 1990

[Wild Cobra]

Afghanistan made perfect sense. Bin Laden and Al Qaeda were behind the attack and the main guys were located in Afghan at the time. Iraq was stupid.
That's right. Tow the liberal line.

[Wild Cobra]

be interesting to see what happens next. a struggle for power in Saudi Arabia could have significant regional and international repercussions.
Yes, it could.

I'll bet the armed forces have strategies in place to both leave there in a hurry, and go in there in full force.

[Wild Cobra]

Not much different there. Saudi Arabia has been the major source of support for Wahhabi extremism for a long time.
I'm sure some money and power of some families has. You would doom a whole nation for that? Would you attack Mexico for the drugs they bring in to us? Blame the whole nation for the actions of some?

[Wild Cobra]

BigOil defines US foreign policy

No, but it is a concern that is a part of the equation.

[baseline bum]

well you gladly took their money in 1990

I thought you took their money, but then you pussed out right before boarding at Logan International, am I right?

[Pelicans78]

That's right. Tow the liberal line.

Nothing liberal about it. Bush made the right call going into Afghan. Iraq was stupid and pointless. Obama should have left Afghan once Bin Laden was caught and killed.

[boutons_deux]

Nothing liberal about it. Bush made the right call going into Afghan. Iraq was stupid and pointless.

:lol Punishing AQ in Afghanistan was right, "nation building" in Afghanistan for 13+ years was bullshit.

The Repugs and the US military LOST unwinnable Afghanistan (like British and Russians lost there) and LOST unwinnable Iraq (USA should have listened to the French and Germans)

[boutons_deux]

well you gladly took their money in 1990

... and US Foreign Policy group (aka, the MIC) gladly sold Saudi $100Bs in military equipment.

[Pelicans78]

:lol Punishing AQ in Afghanistan was right, "nation building" in Afghanistan for 13+ years was bullshit.

The Repugs and the US military LOST unwinnable Afghanistan (like British and Russians lost there) and LOST unwinnable Iraq (USA should have listened to the French and Germans)

Nation building is always a losing cause.

[Wild Cobra]

Nothing liberal about it. Bush made the right call going into Afghan. Iraq was stupid and pointless. Obama should have left Afghan once Bin Laden was caught and killed.

And that mission is long finished.

Why are we still there?

[Winehole23]

Afghanistan made perfect sense. Bin Laden and Al Qaeda were behind the attack and the main guys were located in Afghan at the time.Money and mission support came from Saudi Arabia. Bad guys are more or less inteerchyangeable, but it couldn't have been done without the money.

[Pelicans78]

Money and mission support came from Saudi Arabia. Bad guys are more or less inteerchyangeable, but it couldn't have been done without the money.

Not all the money. Alot came from Egypt and Pakistan as well. Not the governments, but individuals. Same with Saudi and Yemen. Certain individuals were supporting Al Qaeda, but the main players were in Afghan which is why that place was targeted. Top 3 leaders were in that area at the time. Bid Laden, Al-Zahari, and Khalid Sheik "Bedhead" Muhammad.

[Pelicans78]

And that mission is long finished.

Why are we still there?

Fuck if I know. Obama Bin Laden thinks the Taliban are just too mean. Pointless to be there now. But I'm sure Bouton and Chumpdumper will give good reasons.

[Winehole23]

you'd probably be wrong about that.

[Winehole23]

Crown Prince canned, succession rejiggered:


The House of Saud, one of the world’s largest and richest royal families, experienced a quiet coup within its ranks shortly before dawn on Wednesday. King Salman canned his Crown Prince and appointed a tough security official as the new heir. He named as second-in-line to the throne a young son with limited experience. And he removed the world’s longest serving foreign minister, who was responsible for building the alliance between Riyadh and Washington under seven American Presidents since 1975.

A longer list of abrupt royal decrees was announced in an early-morning television bulletin. Senior princes were then assembled at a Riyadh palace to pledge loyalty to the new order of succession. The shakeup, which concentrates power in a conservative wing of the vast royal family, could shape policy in the world’s largest oil exporter (http://www.cnbc.com/id/102630193) for decades.

http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-saudi-royal-family-shakeup