Saudi Arabia has had a few royal shakeups in the past year, setting the stage for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ultimate ascension to the throne. The purge, however, is mounting, with a stunning number of arrests over the weekend.
In what the state media is describing as a “corruption probe,” the Saudis have arrested a massive number of high-ranking officials, including 11 princes, four cabinet ministers, and dozens of other members of the royal family.
Being arrested as a random criminal in Saudi Arabia isn’t exactly the same as being a detained royal. Instead of prison, the royals and top officials are being held in luxury hotels around the capital of Riyadh.
Among the detained are Prince Mitel bin Abdullah, who was once seen as a contender for the crown, and the head of the national guard. Multi-billionaire Alaweed bin Talal was also detained, as are many of Mohammed bin Salman’s relatives, who were seen as potential threats to him when he becomes king.
It’s expected that there will be more arrests coming, as in addition to the arrests, the Saudis have closed the airport for private planes, preventing the wealthy and powerful from escaping the country for the time being.
Mohammed bin Salman was named crown prince in June. The shakeup was widely expected, with the previous crown prince in failing health. King Salman’s own health has been in question for years, and the transition to the next generation of royals is seen as a very destabilizing event.
The royals spent too much time watching game of thrones…
It would be good to know what this is REALLY all about. Ine thing us sure: it has nothingvto do with corruption. The Kingdom is still a feudal entity, and positions in riyal pecking order, as well as positions in governance are by definition corruption – the entitled are making money from both the position as well as the governmental assignments. This was always clear, snd it will be hard for any one of them to appropriate more then entitled to. This is not a democracy where there are mysterious ways by which corporations get to graze on public funds, and the enablers are rewarded asymmetrically in complex system of earnings. Saudi royals and their living on the troth is more straightforward — budget is whatever family decides it is.
So, it looks like Mohammed bin Najaf is not going into that sunset quietly. It was clear early on following neocon commentary on the appointment, rule and the removal of Najaf. He was the lynchpin of US policy in Riyadh. His career include an unfinished college program in US, that was immediatelly followed by FBI training as well as Scotland Yard. Hois role in security field was from that time solid. It is US influence that did bend the rule of inheritance somewhat — and he became Crown Prince. Not only the future King with the key mediating role among princess, but during the life of ruling King, the head of government, as well as many other key ministries. He was through and through our guy. But the King was not pleased, as well as many others. King then appointed his own son to Defense and running of Aramco. This son is known for avoiding the entrappment that was the fate of many Middle East toyals — indiscretions associated with women, gambling, etc. One of the better known was Kuweiti prince caught in a mega gambling scandal in UK. It was not long after that Kuwait provoked fight with Saddam, and our Ambassador famosly mislled Iraq by pretending to be neutral. How did he avoid the scandal or even appearance of it? By having all of his education conducted in Saudi Arabia.
It was clear from day ine through neocon sources that they vould not wsit to have their guy become a king. This was done through repeating of the theme that the King is suffering from dementia, and possibly Alzheimers, and should step down in favor of Najaf. But the battle was already on — with Najaf taking a big gamble in attacking Qatar. The cinditions were set to create conflict — with Najaf stepping into the quagmire by pressuring GCC to chose, and then forcing Saudi Arabia to be boxed into twisting arms of other GCC members to fall in line. Neocons badly underestimated regional politics, and believed kn Saudi ability to see it through. Total miscalculation. This was probably the last straw — and crown orince was removed. Instantly — neocon news was all over the new one, blaming him for sins otherwised pushed by them only a day before. Instantly, they talked of actuvists and dissenters. Lioks like disenters got in the wide net. New ruler plays on popularity in the country, but religious establishment may be unconvinced. But the time of conflict is here. Given the lack of knowledge of the royal family inside workings — time will tell if they consolidate or unravel. But money unites them. The presumably demented king is out there — from Moscow to Washington. Clearly, somebody should be red faced, but not likely. They just march on from didaster to disaster and from embarrassment to embarrassment. Tomorrow is another day.
This has nothing to do with law it is a loyalist purge meant to establish a new leader in the KSA.
Israel recently move a Hugh military force into KSA to protect this process from anyone in KSA that is not supporting the Israel/KSA/USA hegemony.