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Saudi King Abdullah dies aged 91

mbig

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22 January 2015 - Last updated at 18:25 ET
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30945324

Saudi King Abdullah dies aged 91
Breaking news
BBC
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has died in hospital, state TV says.

Before the announcement, Saudi television cut to Koranic verses early on Friday, which often signifies the death of a senior royal.

King Abdullah, who is said to be aged about 90, had been in hospital for several weeks suffering from a lung infection.

The king came to the throne in 2005 but has suffered frequent bouts of ill health in recent years.

Apparently to be succeeded by Aziz.
Oil price and other issues.
 
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And now comes the civil war....

I heard several weeks ago somewhere there were already people jockeying for control.
 
AP is saying his 79 year old half brother "Prince Salmon" will replace him. I remember hearing about that discussion months ago.

Heres some info... Salman of Saudi Arabia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Of note...
In August 2010, Prince Salman underwent spine surgery in the United States and remained out of the kingdom for recovery.[51] He had one stroke and despite physiotherapy, his left arm does not work as well as his right.[52] After his appointment as Crown Prince various analysts including Simon Henderson argue that he is suffering from dementia.[53] In addition, he is believed to be suffering from Alzheimer's disease.[54]

If he's pushing 80 with such health problems I dont expect him to be around for long.
 
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And now comes the civil war....

I heard several weeks ago somewhere there were already people jockeying for control.

They are always jockeying for control, but the house of Saud doesn't play around either. I expect building the wall will continue, and I expect even a hint of resistance will be met with overwhelming force.
 
Hopefully, their oil policy doesn't change course, and the transition between rulers will be smooth.

Saudi Arabia is the glue basically holding the Gulf states together against Iran. If it were to become destabilized, that could present some pretty significant problems.
 
Hopefully, their oil policy doesn't change course, and the transition between rulers will be smooth.

Saudi Arabia is the glue basically holding the Gulf states together against Iran. If it were to become destabilized, that could present some pretty significant problems.
He's been very sick for months.
I doubt it was he making Policy decisions on oil or anything else.
 
He's been very sick for months.
I doubt it was he making Policy decisions on oil or anything else.

I was thinking much the same. It's likely that the King really isn't the most important aspect of the Saudi government, so much as his advisers, anyway.
 
And now comes the civil war...

I heard several weeks ago somewhere there were already people jockeying for control.
You better hope not, though the death may encourage the Shia minority or 'Radical' elements. (Yeah, I know, how much more rad than the govt can the populous be?)
There are many in Saudi and other Gulf State Individuals who support ISIS.
It's a country of Issslamistsss.

The Stable 'pillar' is the 1000 princes, and their flotilla, who get and give the Oil money patronage.
 
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They are always jockeying for control, but the house of Saud doesn't play around either. I expect building the wall will continue, and I expect even a hint of resistance will be met with overwhelming force.

How much terrorism originates with Saudi Arabia?

If ISIL can drop SA, it is over for the west. The caliphate would be a done deal.
 
You think? If they cut production they are essentially keeping US/Canadian oil producers up and running.

Its only a matter of time before those Oil Refineries are targeted...Maybe a 9/11 style hijacking into a major export port...
 
How much terrorism originates with Saudi Arabia?

If ISIL can drop SA, it is over for the west. The caliphate would be a done deal.

No..We have drones, we have nukes, we have tech, we have more oil then they every will...THEY will be over.
 
You better hope not, though the death may encourage the Shia minority or 'Radical' elements. (Yeah, I know, how much more rad than the govt can the populous be?)
There are many in Saudi and other Gulf State Individuals who support ISIS.
It's a country of Issslamistsss.

The Stable 'pillar' is the 1000 princes, and their flotilla, who get and give the Oil money patronage.

Saudi Arabia also apparently has an "agreement" with Pakistan on obtaining nukes-I'd hate to see what the saudi's would do when cornered.
 
No..We have drones, we have nukes, we have tech, we have more oil then they every will...THEY will be over.

Keep dreaming. We are not going to nuke the saudi oil fields. Do you even know what the caliphate is?
 
Its only a matter of time before those Oil Refineries are targeted...Maybe a 9/11 style hijacking into a major export port...

I wouldn't be surprised in the least. ISIS makes much of its money from black market oil sales. Targeting the Saudi's would make the Saudi's appear weak, drive up prices (both helping ISIS oil prices and harming the Saudi economy).
 
I'm not worried about external forces doing anything in SA in the short term. The short term is fraught with internal coup and civil unrest.... an external fight would only bring SA and it's people together.
 
I'm not worried about external forces doing anything in SA in the short term. The short term is fraught with internal coup and civil unrest.... an external fight would only bring SA and it's people together.

Perhaps true though the Sauds were worried about external forces even before this death-they are building a wall and there's a significant military presence on the borders. Internally there are ISIS sympathisers, and succession is a time of susceptibility.
 
I wouldn't be surprised in the least. ISIS makes much of its money from black market oil sales. Targeting the Saudi's would make the Saudi's appear weak, drive up prices (both helping ISIS oil prices and harming the Saudi economy).

Hell 3 LBS of C-4 on a 3,000$ drone is just as good as a $500,000 missile...
 
Perhaps true though the Sauds were worried about external forces even before this death-they are building a wall and there's a significant military presence on the borders. Internally there are ISIS sympathisers, and succession is a time of susceptibility.

Agreed - if there were sleepers or saboteurs they'll be activated quickly. Unless ISIS is racing to the border with everything they have right now, the Saudi's should be okay, unless of course it's something more substantial from say, Iran or even perhaps Yemen on their southern border.
 
AP is saying his 79 year old half brother "Prince Salmon" will replace him. I remember hearing about that discussion months ago.

Heres some info... Salman of Saudi Arabia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Of note...
If he's pushing 80 with such health problems I dont expect him to be around for long.
As well as slightly changing the headline (now just, "Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah dies")...
the BBC has added in their 18:48 update that indeed Salman IS king.
and also named Next in line.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah dies

Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was the fifth of his brothers to take the throne and became king in 2005, reports Caroline Hawley

The announcement, made early on Friday, said his brother, Salman, had become king....

The late king's half brother Moqren has been named the new crown prince, the official statement said.

King Salman called on the royal family's Allegiance Council to recognise Moqren as his crown prince and heir.

"His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1am this morning," the statement said.​
 
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As well as slightly changing the headline (now just, "Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah dies")...
the BBC has added in their 18:48 update that indeed Salman IS king.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah dies

Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was the fifth of his brothers to take the throne and became king in 2005, reports Caroline Hawley

The announcement, made early on Friday, said his brother, Salman, had become king....

The late king's half brother Moqren has been named the new crown prince, the official statement said.

King Salman called on the royal family's Allegiance Council to recognise Moqren as his crown prince and heir.

"His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1am this morning," the statement said.​

Yeah I noticed that while viewing his wiki page, he was the successor, and on hitting refresh he was King. I bet it all went down before the announcement was made.
 
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