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Saudi princes among dozens detained in 'corruption' purge

Rogue Valley

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Saudi princes among dozens detained in 'corruption' purge


BBC News
November 5, 2017

104795014-Mohammed_bin_Salman_.530x298.jpg

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

A new anti-corruption body, headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, detained 11 princes, four sitting ministers and dozens of ex-ministers. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a billionaire with investments in Twitter and Apple, is among those held. Separately King Salman replaced the national guard and the navy chiefs. The new anti-corruption committee has the power to issue arrest warrants and travel bans. Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb said the status of the detainees would not influence "the firm and fair application of justice", AFP news agency reports. The events of Saturday night in Saudi Arabia are nothing short of seismic for that country. In a bold, pre-planned move, the 32-year old Crown Prince has removed the final obstacles to his gaining total control over the world's richest oil producer and home to the holiest shrines in Islam. Presented to the world as an anti-corruption drive, the arrests of princes, ministers and the billionaire tycoon Prince Alwaleed bin Talal have shocked Saudis unused to sudden change.

National guard minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah and navy commander Admiral Abdullah bin Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Sultan were both replaced, with no official explanation given. Prince Miteb, son of the late King Abdullah, was once seen as a contender for the throne and was the last member of Abdullah's branch of the family in the highest echelons of Saudi government. Those reported to have been detained include:

  • Former Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf, a board member of the Saudi Aramco oil company
  • Economy Minister Adel Fakieh
  • Former Riyadh governor Prince Turki bin Abdullah
  • Former head of the royal court Khalid al-Tuwaijiri
  • Bakr bin Laden, chairman of the Saudi Binladin construction group, and brother of Osama bin Laden

Crown Prince Salman is consolidating his hold on power and removing competition/opposition.

Judging from his public remarks lately (NYC terrorist/Clinton), Trump would love to possess/wield such power.
 
the Saudis are terrorists, like ISIS & they chop off heads, like ISIS; all of those detained will likely lose their heads

the Saudis support terrorism, period

comforting to know the Bush family (for decades) & the US Government (since the 1930s) are in bed with these terrorists ...........
 
the Saudis are terrorists, like ISIS & they chop off heads, like ISIS; all of those detained will likely lose their heads

the Saudis support terrorism, period

comforting to know the Bush family (for decades) & the US Government (since the 1930s) are in bed with these terrorists ...........

Well the crown prince actually seems to want to change that and from what I have read wants to start some Westernization and secularization.
 
Well the crown prince actually seems to want to change that and from what I have read wants to start some Westernization and secularization.

Easier said than done.

The Saudi royal family rules with the support of the Imam class which preaches extreme religious conservatism... He'll find it extremely difficult to push too much social change too fast with such an arrangement in place.

It's actually quite a dangerous proposition.

But it'll be interesting to see him try.
 
the Saudis are terrorists, like ISIS & they chop off heads, like ISIS; all of those detained will likely lose their heads

the Saudis support terrorism, period

comforting to know the Bush family (for decades) & the US Government (since the 1930s) are in bed with these terrorists ...........

That's a bit harsh. Most of the Saudi princes and "ruling class" have been educated in the west, and are interested in moderating the incomparable parts of Islam that they feel are holding the country back from it's real potential. They understand that the oil pool cannot last forever and they may have to engage in real commerce someday.
 
That's a bit harsh. Most of the Saudi princes and "ruling class" have been educated in the west, and are interested in moderating the incomparable parts of Islam that they feel are holding the country back from it's real potential. They understand that the oil pool cannot last forever and they may have to engage in real commerce someday.

often times the truth can be a bitter pill ...............
 
Re: Saudi princes among dozens detained in 'corruption' purge
※→ cuban smokes, et al,

Well, this is not exactly accurate.

the Saudis are terrorists, like ISIS & they chop off heads, like ISIS; all of those detained will likely lose their heads

the Saudis support terrorism, period

comforting to know the Bush family (for decades) & the US Government (since the 1930s) are in bed with these terrorists ...........
(COMMENT)

First, as far as the American Oil Leaders and the US Government goes --- it is a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation. For many many years --- and even today, there are key influences in the Middle East/Persian Gulf Region in regards to the supply of energy.

Most Respectfully,
R
 
the critical piece of information i noticed on the bbc was that they separately replaced military leaders concurrently, implying a coup under the auspices of reform. the anticorruption unit is under the aegis of a prince.

coup? junta?
 
Well the crown prince actually seems to want to change that and from what I have read wants to start some Westernization and secularization.

Then again if he was that pro reform he wouldnt be trying to get Qatar to shut down Aljazzera.
 
the critical piece of information i noticed on the bbc was that they separately replaced military leaders concurrently, implying a coup under the auspices of reform. the anticorruption unit is under the aegis of a prince.

coup? junta?

Neither. As the Crown Prince, MBS is the designated heir, and second-in-command. As I understand it, among those replaced in military positions were people who had a possible dynastic claim on the throne, with some folks who weren't.

At current, I read this as an old king helping to clear out his designated heir's contenders before he himself goes, with the concurrent goal of removing obstacles to MBS' preferred reforms. We'll see if he's out over his ski tips or not.
 
Thinking further on this, it reminds me greatly of a Putin-style coup. One of Vova's favorite tactics in the consolidation of his power was "fighting corruption". Under this aegis, almost anyone could be arrested/framed by Putin's former bailiwick - the KGB. He also sent a message to the powerful oligarchs ... you can keep your corruption fortunes, but don't ever cross me. That was 17 years ago and he's still in power. Last year Putin formed a new national entity - the National Guard. 400,000 strong it is composed of OMON (riot police) and former Interior Ministry troops. It is lead by a General ... a longtime Putin loyalist and the former head of Putin's personal bodyguard detachment. In reality, the National Guard is Putin's personal Praetorian Guard, and obeys orders from no one except Vladimir Putin.
 
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