Cracks within Saudi ruling family widening
Undercurrents pronounced and visible
nothing can be ruled out
crown prince MbS tighten grip on power
sidelining all possible contenders to throne
twisting arms of rich individuals — royals and non-royals
Consequently stability of Saudi under threat
Dissensions within royal family beginning to come out in open
11 Saudi princes’, ministers, business tycoons rounded up last Nov
MbS moved when he realised relatives opposed to him becoming king
arresting royal family gave signal “watch out”
whole "anti-corruption campaign" targeted towards royal family
rest is window dressing
senior mullahs who questioned Qatar policy put behind bars
included Salman al-Awda, who has huge following on social media
Early Jan 2018 Saudi detained another 11 princes
after they gathered at Qasr al-Hokm palace in Riyadh
protesting halt in free water, electricity for royal family
seeking compensation for death sentence against cousin Prince Turki
unheard of in recent Saudi history
Not everyone accept official explanation
Prince Abdullah b Saud said reasons for arrest “false” and “illogical”
The prince, president of Saudi Marine Sports, sacked immediately
86-yr Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, half-brother of King, is on hunger strike
over arrest of his three sons, including Prince Al Waleed bin Talal
no word on fate of Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd
Prince resisted arrest, suffered heart attack
believed to be alive, but vegetative state
last year he defied MbS in various tweets
street protests reported from Qassim region
swift arrests of protesters and organisers
region known as power base of Saudi clergy
crown prince coercing those arrested
WSJ reported MbS to seize US$800b assets
Prince Miteb former head National Guard, tortured
made deal with MbS for US$1b
other royals bought their freedom
number of ‘royal prisoners’ at Ritz Carlton Riyadh dwindled
those holding out include billionaire Alwaleed bin Talal
His assets around US$19b
MbS demanding Alwaleed sign over entire Kingdom Holdings
bin Talal balking at $6b settlement
bin Talal moved from Ritz Carlton’ to Al-Hayer prison in Riyadh
shares of Bin Laden Group transferred to “settle outstanding dues”
Reuters says govt taken managerial control of company
may erase US$30b debt Saudi govt owes Bin Laden
Bakr Binladin also arrested in Nov crackdown
Cracks within royal family thus too visible
some corrupt branches of royal family left untouched
arrests mostly directed at bin Abdullahs and bin Talals
Others known for decades for corruption not arrested
Prince Bandar said on TV
Where is Khalid bin Sultan?
Mohammed bin Fahd?
Why aren’t they part of investigation?
injustice to catch some, leave out others known for corruption
Things are murky
Meanwhile MbS on buying spree
US$450m Leonardo da Vinci painting
yacht for US$400m
French chateau at US$300 million.
(That is US$1.15 BILLION!!)
bound to generate friction
recipe for disaster
Riyadh in for some real upheaval
January 22nd, 2018
My comments : I have already said this before.
These arrests and tortures going on in Saudi Arabia have nothing to do with corruption.
All those royal family members who oppose this 32 year old Crown Prince are getting arrested and having their money and assets seized by the govt.
Those who are not opposed to the Crown Prince are being left alone.
Its as simple as that.
This is a really screwed up tribal power play.
The script is really 11th century desert.
There must be camels and concubines somewhere in there as well.
These desert scripts usually end very badly.
The Crown Prince has obviously lost his mind.
Soon he will be losing his head.
Its just a matter of time.
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