Trichromatic Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 Quote International and domestic crises dominated Saudi Arabia over the weekend. On Saturday, a wide variety of powerful Saudi princes and officials were arrested in the name of a new drive against corruption. The same day, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned in a live television broadcast from Riyadh, and an alleged Houthi missile struck Riyadh from Yemen, provoking Saudi Arabia to close the border of its already embargoed neighbor and warn of war with Iran. Pro-government analysts and officials have focused on the question of corruption and framed the arrests as evidence of the crown prince and king’s dedication to reform. Most independent analysts instead emphasizedthe rapid consolidation of power by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who seems to be systematically removing potential challengers to his power before his succession to the throne. While the full scope and ultimate outcome of the weekend’s arrests remain unclear, the new developments should be understood in the context of interaction between Mohammed bin Salman’s short window for domestic power consolidation and Saudi Arabia’s unsettled regional position. Mohammed bin Salman’s domestic political ambitions and foreign policy moves have unfolded in a deeply uncertain environment, with both domestic power and regional order in an unprecedented state of flux. The Yemeni missile attack, Hariri’s resignation, and the Saudi arrests would ordinarily be viewed as events of primarily local significance. In today’s context, however, they have sparked fears of a dangerous and unpredictable regional escalation against Iran. Since the Arab uprisings of 2011, Gulf regimes such as Saudi Arabia have lived in existential fear of the sudden eruption of popular mobilization, while pursuing unusually interventionist foreign policies across the region. The extended Saudi power transition at home and its erratic pattern of failed foreign policy interventions must be understood within this wider regional context. Though seemingly unprecedented, the weekend’s developments follow the pattern Mohammed bin Salman has used since the beginning of his rapid ascent to power in 2015. In both domestic and foreign affairs, he has consistently undertaken sudden and wide-ranging campaigns for unclear reasons which shatter prevailing norms. At home, this audacious political strategy has proven relatively successful — at least in the short term. Abroad, foreign policy gambits such as the intervention in Yemen and the blockade of Qatar have rapidly degenerated into damaging quagmires. This combination of domestic success and foreign policy failure helps makes sense of this weekend’s blizzard of activity and may help preview what comes next. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/11/06/what-saudi-arabias-purge-means-for-the-middle-east/?utm_term=.476878d290bc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chapetmarunga Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 http://www.news18.com/news/world/saudi-arabia-says-lebanon-declares-war-deepening-crisis-1569057.html Beirut: Saudi Arabia accused Lebanon on Monday of declaring war against it because of aggression by the Iran-backed Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah, a dramatic escalation of a crisis threatening to destabilise the tiny Arab country. Lebanon has been thrust to the centre of regional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran since the Saudi-allied Lebanese politician Saad al-Hariri quit as prime minister on Saturday, blaming Iran and Hezbollah in his resignation speech. Hariri cited a plot to assassinate him during his unexpected resignation speech broadcast from Saudi Arabia which caught even his aides off guard. He also slammed Hezbollah and Iran, accusing them of sowing strife in the Arab world. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has said he will not comment on Hariri's speech, calling it a "Saudi statement" and saying Riyadh had forced Hariri to resign. The sudden nature of Hariri's resignation generated speculation in Lebanon that his family's Saudi construction business had been caught up in an anti-corruption purge and he had been coerced into resigning. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir said it was "nonsense" to suggest Hariri had been coerced into quitting in a CNN interview on Monday. Hariri had quit because Hezbollah had been "calling the shots" in the government, he said. Hariri, a Saudi citizen, was free to leave the country at any time, he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G_B_ Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 consolidation of power.... I suspect the listing of Aramco in the USA is a forgone conclusion. Wonder what the Wahabi religious order will do. Fall in line or usher rebellion. velu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandeep Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 Saudi mafia trying to establish themselves. Its a mistake IMO to give this 30 year old "Prince" all this unfettered power. He has been way over aggressive in his moves so far in the last few years, most of them have backfired. And he keeps doubling down on his bets. velu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trichromatic Posted November 8, 2017 Author Share Posted November 8, 2017 10 hours ago, sandeep said: Saudi mafia trying to establish themselves. Its a mistake IMO to give this 30 year old "Prince" all this unfettered power. He has been way over aggressive in his moves so far in the last few years, most of them have backfired. And he keeps doubling down on his bets. Which moves are you talking about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeautifulGame Posted November 8, 2017 Share Posted November 8, 2017 14 hours ago, G_B_ said: consolidation of power.... I suspect the listing of Aramco in the USA is a forgone conclusion. Wonder what the Wahabi religious order will do. Fall in line or usher rebellion. They have already fallen in line and the clergy has given their official blessings to this "Anti-corruption" drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velu Posted November 8, 2017 Share Posted November 8, 2017 5 hours ago, Trichromatic said: Which moves are you talking about? multi billion dollar yemai war .. if they are not going to monetize their oil resource soon , they will be in big trouble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G_B_ Posted November 8, 2017 Share Posted November 8, 2017 7 hours ago, BeautifulGame said: They have already fallen in line and the clergy has given their official blessings to this "Anti-corruption" drive. for now... but i suspect they are not happy with other reforms like allowing women to drive a car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandeep Posted November 8, 2017 Share Posted November 8, 2017 15 hours ago, Trichromatic said: Which moves are you talking about? There's a laundry list. Deciding to Shock and Awe Yemen assuming it will a quick win for them is right up there. Moves on the oil market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Merlyn Posted November 8, 2017 Share Posted November 8, 2017 This is real life GOT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New guy Posted November 8, 2017 Share Posted November 8, 2017 1 hour ago, Malcolm Merlyn said: This is real life GOT. 2 Princes have already been killed. One resisting arrest, one in a helicopter crash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Merlyn Posted November 8, 2017 Share Posted November 8, 2017 2 Princes have already been killed. One resisting arrest, one in a helicopter crashYea.Trump has tweeted his support. New guy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewy Posted November 8, 2017 Share Posted November 8, 2017 many average Badr or Fatima on street supporting this purge, they grew tired of endless corruption by so many royals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chapetmarunga Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 IMO Lebanon is a testing ground for future intervention in Iran. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/11/saudi-arabia-issues-travel-alert-lebanon-171109143454070.html Saudi, UAE, Kuwait urge citizens to leave Lebanon Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have advised their citizens not to travel to Lebanon and urged those who are in the country to leave as soon as possible. Saudi Arabia's official news agency SPA quoted a source in the foreign ministry on Thursday as saying: "Due to the situations in the Republic of Lebanon, the official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Saudi nationals visiting or residing in Lebanon are asked to leave the country as soon as possible. "The Kingdom advised all citizens not to travel to Lebanon from any other international destinations." Only hours later, Kuwait and the UAE also urged its nationals to leave Lebanon immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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