Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has died in hospital, state TV says.
Before the announcement, Saudi television cut to Koranic verses early on Friday, which often signifies the death of a senior royal.
King Abdullah, who is said to be aged about 90, had been in hospital for several weeks suffering from a lung infection.
The king came to the throne in 2005 but has suffered frequent bouts of ill health in recent years.
And now comes the civil war....
I heard several weeks ago somewhere there were already people jockeying for control.
In August 2010, Prince Salman underwent spine surgery in the United States and remained out of the kingdom for recovery.[51] He had one stroke and despite physiotherapy, his left arm does not work as well as his right.[52] After his appointment as Crown Prince various analysts including Simon Henderson argue that he is suffering from dementia.[53] In addition, he is believed to be suffering from Alzheimer's disease.[54]
Good bye cheap oil prices....
Good bye cheap oil prices....
And now comes the civil war....
I heard several weeks ago somewhere there were already people jockeying for control.
He's been very sick for months.Hopefully, their oil policy doesn't change course, and the transition between rulers will be smooth.
Saudi Arabia is the glue basically holding the Gulf states together against Iran. If it were to become destabilized, that could present some pretty significant problems.
He's been very sick for months.
I doubt it was he making Policy decisions on oil or anything else.
You better hope not, though the death may encourage the Shia minority or 'Radical' elements. (Yeah, I know, how much more rad than the govt can the populous be?)And now comes the civil war...
I heard several weeks ago somewhere there were already people jockeying for control.
They are always jockeying for control, but the house of Saud doesn't play around either. I expect building the wall will continue, and I expect even a hint of resistance will be met with overwhelming force.
You think? If they cut production they are essentially keeping US/Canadian oil producers up and running.
How much terrorism originates with Saudi Arabia?
If ISIL can drop SA, it is over for the west. The caliphate would be a done deal.
You better hope not, though the death may encourage the Shia minority or 'Radical' elements. (Yeah, I know, how much more rad than the govt can the populous be?)
There are many in Saudi and other Gulf State Individuals who support ISIS.
It's a country of Issslamistsss.
The Stable 'pillar' is the 1000 princes, and their flotilla, who get and give the Oil money patronage.
No..We have drones, we have nukes, we have tech, we have more oil then they every will...THEY will be over.
How much terrorism originates with Saudi Arabia?
If ISIL can drop SA, it is over for the west. The caliphate would be a done deal.
Its only a matter of time before those Oil Refineries are targeted...Maybe a 9/11 style hijacking into a major export port...
Keep dreaming. We are not going to nuke the saudi oil fields. Do you even know what the caliphate is?
I'm not worried about external forces doing anything in SA in the short term. The short term is fraught with internal coup and civil unrest.... an external fight would only bring SA and it's people together.
I wouldn't be surprised in the least. ISIS makes much of its money from black market oil sales. Targeting the Saudi's would make the Saudi's appear weak, drive up prices (both helping ISIS oil prices and harming the Saudi economy).
Perhaps true though the Sauds were worried about external forces even before this death-they are building a wall and there's a significant military presence on the borders. Internally there are ISIS sympathisers, and succession is a time of susceptibility.
As well as slightly changing the headline (now just, "Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah dies")...AP is saying his 79 year old half brother "Prince Salmon" will replace him. I remember hearing about that discussion months ago.
Heres some info... Salman of Saudi Arabia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Of note...
If he's pushing 80 with such health problems I dont expect him to be around for long.
As well as slightly changing the headline (now just, "Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah dies")...
the BBC has added in their 18:48 update that indeed Salman IS king.
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah dies
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was the fifth of his brothers to take the throne and became king in 2005, reports Caroline Hawley
The announcement, made early on Friday, said his brother, Salman, had become king....
The late king's half brother Moqren has been named the new crown prince, the official statement said.
King Salman called on the royal family's Allegiance Council to recognise Moqren as his crown prince and heir.
"His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1am this morning," the statement said.
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