With King Faud dead, Saudi Arabia could erupt at any time

[Walt Starr]

Now we know why Bush has been kissing up (literally) to the guy who will follow him (King Abdullah).

[BlueEyedSon]

1. And vice-versa. Whose army do you think is going to be cops for them?

[Swamp Rat]

2. Who's yer daddy Dumbya?!

:D

[Garbo 2004]

3. Why? The King hasn't been in charge of anything for years. What has

changed?

[Walt Starr]

4. Abdullah will be able to exercise far more power

than Fahd could.

Fahd was in poor health for years.

[demnan]

5. Hasn't Fahd sort of been like "Weekend at Bernie's"

for years?

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. But isn't the point that Abdullah has already been

exercising power, as Crown Prince? It's been a gradual changeover taking a number of years.

[H2O Man]

6. It may be that

the OP is refering to the possibility that, even though the old fellow was actually only in power in a sybolic way, that often it is minor events with symbolic power that have unexpected consequence.

It is possible, even likely, that you are correct. It may not have any effect on the country. Yet Saudi Arabia is a powder keg, and I think the OP is pointing out that it is the fuse, a little insignificant looking part, that sets the whole thing off. You can try to light the keg all day, and nothing happens. But when that tiny little fuse catches on, it blows.

[niallmac]

8. I wouldn't underestimate the psychological impact of Fahds death.

Points about his irrelevance are well taken but never the less: The King is Dead.
Which reminds me. Has anyone seen Elvis lately?

[izzie]

9. I wonder if it will?

I lived in the open society in SA and almost to 100 percent the people wanted what you and I wanted. Their was always some religious nuts around and the endless army with guns.