SAUDI ARABIA: KING CLINICALLY DEAD, SOURCES SAY

[Walt Starr]

Riyadh, 29 April (AKI) - Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah's visit to the United States this week to discuss oil matters with President George W. Bush, took place amid growing speculation back home that the bed-ridden King Fahd's condition has worsened with the monarch slipping out of conciousness. Speculation is rife among Riyadh's ruling elite of Fahd's clinical death - but even if this were true, any official announcement would delayed until a final decision on Fahd's successor has been taken.
Sources close to the Saudi royal family told Adnkronos International about the "suspicious" disappearance of King Fahd from public scene in the last ten days. At the same time, the sources have noted frantic activity involving the Seven Sudaris - the seven sons of King Abdul Aziz's wife, who hailed from Saudi Arabia's Sudari tribe, around whom the succession question revolves - King Fahd and Defence Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz are two of the most powerful Sudari sevens.

Crown Prince Abdullah - who is Fahd's half brother - has long been touted to ascend the throne, but well placed sources maintain that there is resistance from other Sudari sevens members who favour closer ties with the West, something which Abdullah, who is very popular among Saudi religious circles, seems reluctant to cultivate. However, past efforts to promote the more Western-friendly defence minister Prince Sultan as Crown Prince instead of Abdullah failed because of division among the Sudaris.

Abdullah seems likely to remain the main beneficiary of internal Sudari squabbling, and already three years ago, he set up a Royal Council including all the 65 sons of the late King Abdul Aziz to settle all disputes related to the monarchy.

<snip>

More -

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Politics&loid=8.0.159874842&par=0

If this is true, there could be some rocky roads ahead depending upon whom is picked to succeed King Fahd. It also puts Prince Abdullah's visit to the ranch into perspective.

[whistle]

1. Does he have a feeding tube inserted in his belly...

[jamesinca]

14. My thoughts exactly

What about the feeding tube? Or do the repugs not want to encroach on States laws/customs this time? Maybe it will be a day of mourning for the Bush family? Maybe we will have all of them out of the country on the same day and be clean again!

[slackmaster]

2. Fahd was a party animal when he lived in my home town

He spent thousands of dollars every week on cut flowers, hookers, booze, and blow (that's cocaine hydrochloride for the uninitiated).

[CBGLuthier]

3. So he has something in common with America then

Our king has been brain dead for about 25 years, but no one wants to admit it.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. LOL!

[jayfish]

4. What A Great Opportunity For The Entire...

religious Right to go over there to stop the Saudis from pulling the plug. Don't forget the water and make sure you send a post card. :hi:

Jay

[Bridget Burke]

10. The entire Religious Right descends on Saudi Arabia?

Sounds good to me. Many would achieve Rapture ahead of schedule.

[havocmom]

35. They can't go. No beer. No bourbon.

No way in hell the wingers would go.

[tmooses]

6. Thank God George H. Bush didn't have 65 sons!

n/t

[Roland99]

19. And be glad the latest * in office had two ditzy girls!

[bluestateguy]

7. Gosh, I'm just all broken up

I mean, I'm inconsolable with grief.

:eyes:

[lovuian]

8. Abdullah has been running the country for years!!!

Pope John Paul and Now King Fahd

lots of countries changing hands!!!

[Career Prole]

9. Do they dare lower the flags to half-mast for another week...

...at shrub's command?
Of course, we don't do that for soldiers...

[daleo]

11. The timing of the visit seems interesting then.

Bushco can't help it if they're lucky.

[Benhurst]

12. Fahd clinically dead. Bush brain dead. O, brave new world! NT

[davidinalameda]

13. can I be king

I've always wanted my own country

[Cooley Hurd]

15. What are the immediate consequences of King Fahd's death?

What would be the differences between the reign of Fahd and the impending reign of Abdullah?:shrug:

[kskiska]

16. Randall Terry is en route to Riyadh

as we speak. Will Tom DeLay speak out?

[Zynx]

29. I would love to see Randell Terry go to Riyadh.

That'd be a good way to meet the Lord.

[fob]

17. Quick, get a video link in front of Senator Kitty Frist for a diagnosis,

STAT! Then call a special session so the King Fahd Keep His Ass Alive Act can be rushed to the head of the Senate agenda.


NOTE: As an aside I wish no illness or harm to anyone, if it's time for him to go, may it be peaceful. As for any issues he brought forth upon his people that is for him to deal with within his own conscience.

[Maple]

18. Wait'll this news hits

the oil market

[TR Fan]

32. It won't really affect the market, as

Fahd has been incapacitated for over ten years.

[Horse with no Name]

20. The royal family rented one of the top floors at Baylor in Dallas

for "a royal Saudi's" treatment for over a year.
As an employee, you couldn't even go up the stairs to that part of the hospital without having security clearance.
The staff that were cleared to work on that floor--took care of only him (they were Baylor staff).
There were tons of Middle Eastern businessmen in and out during this period of time.
On the first anniversary of 911--I was concerned about working there because of how high one particular part of the hospital is, and was told that we had no worries of being hit by anything while the "royal Saudi" was in house.
Just to put it into perspective, an entire floor in the section of Baylor would house over 40 patients for ONE patient for over a year.
Anything is for sale, ya know?

[havocmom]

36. Bet there was no chance of the hospital deciding to pull plugs over the

wishes of family. Guess that only happens to kids from poor families.

[Frederik]

21. Bush's boyfriend to be king?

"Crown Prince Abdullah - who is Fahd's half brother - has long been touted to ascend the throne, but well placed sources maintain that there is resistance from other Sudari sevens members who favour closer ties with the West, something which Abdullah, who is very popular among Saudi religious circles, seems reluctant to cultivate."

He only cultivates friendships with equally thuggish oil barons who are also "popular among religious circles".

[Walt Starr]

22. Now we know why he was holding hands and smooching Abdullah

It was a show for Abdullah's family to make them think he's West-friendly.

[SpiralHawk]

23. I'm rooting for Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz

Because he's gotta cool name.

But I have to wonder, is he up to the job of holding hands with George Bush? What with the other princes and Jeff Gannon and all, Abdul Aziz is up against some stiff competition.

[meganmonkey]

25. You are a bad, bad boy (?)

:spank:

on edit: what with your hidden profile, I know not your gender

[TR Fan]

31. They're ALL Abdul Aziz...

Bin Abdul Aziz simply means the "son of Abdul Aziz."

[SpiralHawk]

33. How Wonderful - we get a cool name no matter what

I knew there was a Bright Side to this.

Spiral Hawk IGI (Indeterminate Gender Identity)

[catzies]

24. Remember a few summers ago -- dead Saudi Princes in the desert?

I know we're propping up the Saudi monarchy...I really wonder what the fallout from this will be.

It's early in the year, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say the death of King Fahd will be up there with the death of the Pope, as far as long-reaching impact is concerned.

[KansDem]

27. "death of King Fahd will be up there with the death of the Pope"

I've heard these things come in threes...

Hmmmmm...

[SaveAmerica]

28. Billy Graham?

I don't look forward to his son taking over the family business.

[NNN0LHI]

26. Must have got a hold of some bad crack n/t

[Zerex71]

30. Where's the feeding tube? Will they send up white smoke for Bandar Bush?

[Parche]

34. Saudia

He might need an Oil transfusion