Saudi King Dead

[Liquid]

Beeb are reporting that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has died after ongoing problems due to a chest infection.

The 90 year old was King for 10 years and he has been succeeded by a half-brother, Salman. King Salman, having already taken on many responsibilities de facto in the last few months, is just 79 years young himself.

A difficult time for a country as monsterous as Saudi Arabia. Despite being a darling ally of the United States there is Al-Qaida to the south in Yemen and ISIS to the north in Iraq.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

I can't say I shed any tears.

 

[nk4e]

Should we fear who becomes the next King? Recently, I hardly ever see any reports about Saudi Arabia other than " Gas prices are dropping".

 

[Liquid]

More disappointment for Prince Charles as his attempts to succeed the throne are thwarted by King Salman.

 

[Sanji Himura]

Should we fear who becomes the next King? Recently, I hardly ever see any reports about Saudi Arabia other than " Gas prices are dropping".

Possibly. King Abdullah's death could have created a power vacuum in the region. This new king, Salman, hasn't been in any international news of note recently, possibly to keep the fact that he was running the country for the last ten years out of the papers. If he ultimately proves himself a weak ruler now that the spotlight is on him, well, you can see the bigger picture.

 

[mistersafeway]

he was running the country for the last ten years out of the papers.

Last few months, according to the OP. I don't see anything to get worried about, unless they get a king soon who is an Islamic* extremist.

*Other extremists are available, consult your local arms dealer for more information.

 

[Joel]

Should we fear who becomes the next King? Recently, I hardly ever see any reports about Saudi Arabia other than " Gas prices are dropping".

A journalist I follow on Twitter described it as: It’s not “This is bad” but “Like driving to 7-11 in freezing rain, this is a routine opportunity for things to go bad suddenly”

 

[jimipitbull]

Should we fear who becomes the next King? Recently, I hardly ever see any reports about Saudi Arabia other than " Gas prices are dropping".

The Scorpion King, to the east in Egypt. He is without a doubt the most electrifying man in the Middle East today.

 

[Sanji Himura]

Last few months, according to the OP. I don't see anything to get worried about, unless they get a king soon who is an Islamic* extremist.

*Other extremists are available, consult your local arms dealer for more information.

I read it from another source that have since edited it accordingly. Still, it really doesn't make what I have said any less true.

 

[Dotini]

There could quickly unfold a messy succession. The new King is reportedly suffering from dementia and is in frail health.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world...0e0a9c-a28e-11e4-9f89-561284a573f8_story.html
“Having a king with dementia is the last thing they need at this difficult time,” Henderson said. “Yemen is falling apart, ISIS is knocking at the door . . . this is an extraordinarily dangerous Middle East from a Saudi perspective.”

 

[Dennisch]

They couldn't find a younger specimen for the throne?

 

[Liquid]

They couldn't find a younger specimen for the throne?

Well. They did find someone eleven whole years younger than Abdullah which makes this new guy the same age as Abdullah when he became King. You're winner!

At 79 he isn't in the first flourish of youth, that's for sure.

 

[Dotini]

They couldn't find a younger specimen for the throne?

Running out of brothers: The Saudi royal family
Since the death in 1953 of the founder of the Saudi state, King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, the line of succession to the throne has passed through his sons, from brother to brother. But eventually the brothers all will die, raising the question of how to transition to the next generation of princes without discord. Here are some key brothers and the succession order to Kind Abdullah. Read related article.

King Saud 1902-1969 Ousted by his brother Faisal. Crown Prince Nayef 1933 -2012 Appointed as heir to the throne in 2011 but died one year later. Succession order to King Abdullah LIVING Sons of King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud DEAD Became king # Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin 1945- Appointed deputy heir in 2014. Prince Talal 1931- Erratic and perceived as unstable; exiled in the 1960s when he criticized the House of Saud. King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud 1876-1953 Reigned for 21 years from 1932 until his death. CURRENT AGE/AGE WHEN DIED King Abdullah 1924-2015 Named Prince Muqrin as deputy heir to the throne, prompting criticism within the royal family. King Fahd 1921-2005 Reigned until his death. Crown Prince Sultan 1924-2011 Appointed as heir to the throne in 2005 but died in 2011. Crown Prince Salman 1936- Appointed first in line to the throne in 2012; believed to be in poor health. Prince Ahmed 1940- If Salman becomes king, he could be appointed crown prince instead of Muqrin. King Khaled 1912-1982 Reigned until his death. King Faisal 1904-1975 Assassinated by his nephew Faisal bin Musaid. About 25 other sons who lived to adulthood are not shown.
SOURCE: Washington Institute for Near East Policy, staff reporting. GRAPHIC: Cristina Rivero - The Washington Post. Published May 25, 2014.

 

[Carbonox]

Oh, how astounding that a Saudi king lived for 90 years, and his brothers have also enjoyed remarkably long lives. Certainly that can't have anything to do with the poppycock about unfair distribution of wealth, correct? Cough cough.

 

[Rage Racer]

I've heard that oil prices have gone up now. Which is good for other oil exporting countries. Including the one governed by some former KGB officer. Hey, don't you think it's... WAIT! Oh ----

 

[Sanji Himura]

I've heard that oil prices have gone up now. Which is good for other oil exporting countries. Including the one governed by some former KGB officer. Hey, don't you think it's... WAIT! Oh ----

Not so fast. Oil is sitting at $46.31, a drop of 3.17% since yesterday (as of post time). Yes, oil prices rose ever so slightly throughout the morning this morning, but they have since fallen below what they started today with.

If you want a apt scenario, think of it as the markets were in fear of what the Saudis were going to do since they installed a new king today. Since the new king is going to continue the current policies, the oil prices slid back down.

 

[Keef]

Despite being a darling ally of the United States

A tenuous one at best. Saudi Arabia is a miserable place and regime. It would probably be better off without the Saudi.

 

[Johnnypenso]

A tenuous one at best. Saudi Arabia is a miserable place and regime. It would probably be better off without the Saudi.

I hear the king was quite a moderate fellow. He even allowed the women to wear different coloured ghost costumes on halloween. Next thing you know, women will be driving and it'll be a complete breakdown in society.

 

[Omnis]

 

[Dennisch]

That made me chuckle.

 

[Sanji Himura]

Minor update since my last post: US Crude is up $1.07 to $47.38 in after-hours trading, a 2.3% gain. Bent crude, an international benchmark, is up 1% to $49. So far, the markets are reacting as expected.

 

[Tornado]

Can we get a guage on whether that means pump prices will go back up so we can go back to talking about how soft Tom Brady's ball's are?

 

[Dotini]

Can we get a guage on whether that means pump prices will go back up so we can go back to talking about how soft Tom Brady's ball's are?

Some state gas taxes will rise significantly, and so maybe will the federal gas tax. Otherwise, probably not for a good long while.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Oil production will have a much, much greater impact on the price than Abdullah's death. So long as the Saudis continue to maintain a high level of output, the price will stay down. Abdullah has already been buried and there is no official (or even public) mourning period, and Salman has already said that he intends to maintain the status quo on every issue for the time being.

 

[Sanji Himura]

Some state gas taxes will rise significantly, and so maybe will the federal gas tax. Otherwise, probably not for a good long while.

Taxes don't influence the price of gasoline. Those are at a fixed rate. It is only the price of crude that directly influences the price of gas, unless our politicians do something stupid.

 

[mustafur]

Who is the Youngest Son of Abdul Aziz?

 

[Omnis]

No, Who is the 2nd.

 

[Sanji Himura]

Who is the Youngest Son of Abdul Aziz?

If you are strictly speaking about the line of succession, then it is Muqrin. The crown would then pass on to king Saud's grandsons at this point. However, if Salman decides to name Ahmed crown prince instead of Muquin, then the whole line could be ******.

 

[dxm8975]

Yeah I overheard on the news that the Saudi King Abdul Aziz is dead yesterday... worth keeping an eye on how the new Saudi arabian king Salman is going to deal with the fluctuating oil prices, the countermeasure against ISIS and how he's planning on maintaining relationship with US.

 

[KSaiyu]

Whilst suffering from dementia? Surely they're more worried about who's going to have to be wiping his arse in a few years time when he forgets he did a number 2 on the throne.