The purge of Saudi Arabian princes and members of the royal family in an “anti-corruption” investigation continues to grow, with the announcement that a second prince, Abdul Aziz, has turned up dead after he got into a gunfight with Saudi security forces.
Abdul Aziz was the second prince to die in the past couple of days, with Mansour Bin Muqrin dying in a helicopter crash. Aziz had initially been reported arrested Sunday, then was reported hospitalized, then confirmed killed.
11 princes were initially reported arrested, though that seems to be down to 10 with Aziz’ sudden death. Dozens of other royal family members and officials were also being detained.
Arrests of more officials were reported Monday, and the kingdom is also imposing a restrictive travel ban to try to prevent wealthy businessmen and royals with private planes from fleeing the country in case they’re to be added to the list.
The exact goal of the purge isn’t clear, though in the past it’s been believed that the crown prince is eager to secure his path to the throne by taking out potential competitors, amid long-standing reports the king isn’t in the best of health.
The King’s poor health — presumably advanced senility and possibly Alzheimers — was
neocon fairy tale, akin to Russian mind control of US voters. It was meant to hurry King into abdication in favor of neocon heavily pushed crown prince Mohammed bin Najaf. He was for decades their man — CIA favorite. He was in charge of all security agencies and the Ministry of Interior (a combination of FBI, Homeland Security and NSA). The damage to Saudi Arabia was immense. Money, arms, and religious-political leadership provided to dozens of groups world wide, with heavy emphasis on Iraq and Syria — was taking its toll financially and politically. Saudi reputation was damaged by the spread of Salafism and Wahhabism through barbaric groups under many names and banners, including ISIS and Al-Qaeda. The groups clearly targeted Shia religion followers, Christians as well as all Sunni communities resisting their interpretation of Islam. The failure of the strategy is in the rejection by the majority Sunni communities of Saudi pushed version if Islam. The litmust test is Iran. In spite of all the efforts and monry spent, majority of Sunni religious authorities are recognizing Shia religion as Moslems, not apostates. Quite the opposite, most of the Moslim woorld is cslling ISIS version of Islam “takfiri”, or the apostates. Collapsing the price of oil was in support of neocon policy aiming at damaging economies of Russia, Venezuela and Iran. Fracking products until today are not based on full cost of production, as it is fully based on revolving credit. The straw that broke Saudi back was Qatar. Najaf had to go — as Qatar blew jn Saudi face — breaking the appearance of GCC unity. As se know now, King is not senile, Mohammed bin Salman has built up the relationship with Russia, Egypt took over the management of Qatar fiasco by changing conditions to “principles”, as the collapse of the Sunni “lrincipality” in Ieaq and Syria. nears collapse. US cannot own it openly, and is scrambling for a parch of land in Syrian Kobane Kurd region. Iraqi Israeli project in Kurdidtan is over.
So, now relying on both Russia and Egypt to support its priorities in energy and regional politics, with Iran feeding Qatar, and Thrkish military base double the size before Qatar adventure — where do you think Salman’s priorities are? I would say in dismantling of Najaf/CIA network in the country, and swiftly erasing the image of the country of backwards barbaric kingdom by “returning” — as Salman put it – to open and moderate country it once was. Women driving was a move fast in this direction. For a time being he has to mouth off neocon mantras — to make them hope he will
stay on anti-Iranian path. But this path has already lost its followers in the Middle East, and it is all the question of time before Salman rearranges the structures of governance, and uses regional framework for solving pressing problems, like war in Yemen. It is all very fluid — as Najaf had a deep state in his favor, but Salman is popular, and attacking him politically is now impossible. Even if he is assasinated, the ensuing chaos could break the country. So, it is of to a slow change of course. Najaf’s policies are the reason for his removal — else, his anti-Iranian and anti-Russian policies would still be guiding Saudi Arabia.