Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Saudi Arabia's Gerontocracy

Saudi Arabia's Gerontocracy

There are our "friends."

Saudi Arabia is facing a future of kings with short reigns. They will probably be dubbed "Saudi Brezhnevs," after the increasingly decrepit leadership in the final years of the Soviet Union. It was entirely predictable: 12 years ago, a former British adviser to the Saudi royals preferred a Monty Python metaphor, "The parrots will fall off their perch in rapid succession."

The logical way around this problem is for the House of Saud to choose a significantly younger king — although for him to be called a "Saudi Gorbachev" would give Riyadh heartburn. Within the line of sons of Ibn Saud, Interior Minister Prince Nayef (born 1933) and the governor of Riyadh Province, Prince Salman (born 1936), would be contenders.


Ever hear of democracy, people?

One more reason for energy independence: so we can stop propping up people like this.

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