Quote
RIYADH, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has died, state television reported early on Friday and his brother Salman became king, it said in a statement attributed to Salman.
King Salman has called on the family's Allegiance Council to pay allegiance to Muqrin as his crown prince and heir.
BAD timing.
Quote from: Gusington on January 22, 2015, 06:44:14 PM
BAD timing.
...seriously, dying at the same time as Deflatgate (http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2015/01/22/ask-tom-belichick-passes-deflate-gate-questions-to-brady/) hitting the news :-\ (I kid, I kid)....on a more serious note, (shrug), due to his age/health I suspect the Saudis have been expecting it.
yeah, but it's going to kick off a succession struggle in the one part of the world that does not need more instability...
Quote from: bayonetbrant on January 22, 2015, 07:11:38 PM
yeah, but it's going to kick off a succession struggle in the one part of the world that does not need more instability...
Are we still talking about the NFL?
Definitely.
Quote from: bayonetbrant on January 22, 2015, 07:11:38 PM
yeah, but it's going to kick off a succession struggle in the one part of the world that does not need more instability...
I thought they were talking about this a couple of weeks ago, and that the succession was already decided.
According to this (http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/22/us-saudi-succession-idUSKBN0KV2RQ20150122), King Abdullah's brother Salman became king.
Quote from: Greybriar on January 22, 2015, 11:27:16 PM
According to this (http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/22/us-saudi-succession-idUSKBN0KV2RQ20150122), King Abdullah's brother Salman became king.
Yes, but it's who comes after that matters.
The newly crowned king is so old that unfortunately it won't be long until he passes, too.
I nominate Bawb. he has facial hair.
the king is dead (long life the new king) but not Wahhabiszm
Wahhabiszm is what had started it all!, those medevil strict interpretation of Islam.
Saudi Arabia and some other 'Kingdoms' overthere are nothing else as a century-long settled-in IS, but with a shitload of oil and in pinstripes-banker suits (well, if they would not be wearing their traditional nighties all the time) so they dont have to export their ideology with military means. But incountry its the same Sharia-law ...including beheading, religious police, public flogging for a blogger, you name it....
Its the same mindset as IS. Well they don't invade other countries with bands of ragtag soldiers in pickup trucks ... they don't have to!
They just buy into each and everything they want, and spend billions on spreading the strict view of Islam by finacing Mosques/Education Centers in your country and city gentle reader, catering to immigrant-offspring with islamic belief.
And some of their rich private persons more ore less openly finance terror-groups in the middle east
It was the historical error of the West (Allies), to let those nomadic camel breeders tribes, with their backward religion interpretation gain so much money and power.
Would have been better to cut a secret deal with Russia and China to just occupy that stretch of dirt in the late 40ies and let those "sand ni*%&" just be the "sand ni'*ยง&" they are!
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on January 23, 2015, 12:49:13 AM
I nominate Bawb. he has facial hair.
No way do I want to be anywhere nearer that part of the world than I already am.
Too late, your nomination has been accepted Bawb. Only gold frying pans for your battered cranium from now on.
MikeGER - you have to tone it down a little. The above post was a little harsh.
Yeah, instability is not something the Saudis need any of. ISIS is certainly going to jump on this unless they get their shit together fast.
Quote from: Gusington on January 23, 2015, 07:34:48 AM
MikeGER - you have to tone it down a little. The above post was a little harsh.
I respectfully disagree. seems like a spot on summary.
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on January 23, 2015, 09:13:49 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 23, 2015, 07:34:48 AM
MikeGER - you have to tone it down a little. The above post was a little harsh.
I respectfully disagree. seems like a spot on summary.
'
I don't think it was the summary, I think Gus was taking umbrage at specific vocabulary words, and I think he's right on.
Im dont think I read the pre edited post.
Quote from: LongBlade on January 23, 2015, 12:37:56 AM
Quote from: Greybriar on January 22, 2015, 11:27:16 PM
According to this (http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/22/us-saudi-succession-idUSKBN0KV2RQ20150122), King Abdullah's brother Salman became king.
Yes, but it's who comes after that matters.
The newly crowned king is so old that unfortunately it won't be long until he passes, too.
According to the article I linked to, "King Salman has named his half-brother Muqrin as his crown prince and heir." Muqrin is 69.
GDS, i had edited the post (vilify word) myself before i had hit the send button ...to keep it near the borderline, well, very very close to the borderline, that i have to admit.
(https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10941039_10206043147428199_118127241489903554_n.jpg?oh=ca27d747908ff14d5611d10b4525a582&oe=5559F15A)
Well if I have to spell it out it was the use of the 'sand' moniker. Not cool. I understand that there is a language barrier, but still...not cool.
Quote from: Greybriar on January 23, 2015, 09:51:02 AM
According to the article I linked to, "King Salman has named his half-brother Muqrin as his crown prince and heir." Muqrin is 69.
Good lord. I had to re-read his name a couple of times in that post.
I thought it said his name was Prince Merkin.
At first I read it as prince salami.
Quote from: bayonetbrant on January 23, 2015, 10:09:52 AM
(https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10941039_10206043147428199_118127241489903554_n.jpg?oh=ca27d747908ff14d5611d10b4525a582&oe=5559F15A)
:2funny:
And Merkin too!
Thank heavens he doesn't a goatee!
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2Fc%2Fc3%2FPrince_Muqrin_bin_Abdulaziz_Al_Saud.jpg%2F220px-Prince_Muqrin_bin_Abdulaziz_Al_Saud.jpg&hash=942813f76cc57f7c5ebc34058ccd3c6d5650b3be)
There are rumours that King Salman has dementia. Great. ::)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muqrin_bin_Abdulaziz_Al_Saud
Quote
On 22 October 2005, King Abdullah appointed Prince Muqrin as director general of Saudi Arabia's intelligence agency Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah.[14][16][18][19] His appointment occurred nine months after the resignation of the former director general Prince Nawwaf.[19][20]
Prince Muqrin organized a conference on combating internet militancy, particularly used by al Qaeda in 2007.[21] He further declared that Al Mukhabarat al A'amah would set a website to inform citizens about threats to security. He also stated that the organization would be restructured to combat with AQAP.[22] He successfully expelled Islamist militants from Saudi Arabia.[23] On 19 July 2012, Prince Muqrin was relieved from his post and replaced by Bandar bin Sultan.[24] It was argued by media that Prince Muqrin had been criticized during his term due to his approach towards some sensitive issues.[25] On the other hand, Prince Muqrin was named advisor at the rank of minister and a special envoy to King Abdullah the same day.[24][26] His responsibility was stated to be the affairs in southeast Asia.[27]
Quote
Prince Muqrin played an active role in Pakistani politics during his term at the Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah.[18] After Pervez Musharraf's 1999 military coup on Nawaz Sharif, the Saudi government arranged a ten-year agreement with Pervez Musharraf to accept Nawaz Sharif as an exile.[28] Because of Benazir Bhutto's early return from exile and the upcoming 2008 elections, Sharif attempted to return to Pakistan in 2007 against the advice of Prince Muqrin.[29][30] However, Sharif was quickly deported from Pakistan and was greeted by Muqrin bin Abdulaziz at the Jeddah airport.[31] Prince Muqrin was also involved in political reconciliation efforts in Pakistan.[32][33]
On the other hand, Muqrin bin Abdulaziz and Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal were reported to be in favor of pushing the sanctions against Iran instead of military action as King Abdullah insisted.[34] However, Prince Muqrin also argued that Iran's interference in internal Gulf affairs, especially Iran's move in regard to nuclear arms, had very negative effects on the region and therefore, might cause an arms race among the Gulf states.[35]
Quote
Muqrin bin Abdulaziz is believed by many to be a liberal within the family.[23][46] However, letter exchanges regarding the Shia in the Eastern province illustrated an interesting opposition between him and late Crown Prince Nayef. The letters discussed how a situation involving Shia instigation in the Eastern Province should have been handled. In these exchanges, Prince Muqrin argued for a much stronger and harsher approach, but was vetoed by the late Crown Prince.[46]
Quote from: Centurion40 on January 26, 2015, 09:24:05 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muqrin_bin_Abdulaziz_Al_Saud
Quote
On 22 October 2005, King Abdullah appointed Prince Muqrin as director general of Saudi Arabia's intelligence agency Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah.[14][16][18][19] His appointment occurred nine months after the resignation of the former director general Prince Nawwaf.[19][20]
Prince Muqrin organized a conference on combating internet militancy, particularly used by al Qaeda in 2007.[21] He further declared that Al Mukhabarat al A'amah would set a website to inform citizens about threats to security. He also stated that the organization would be restructured to combat with AQAP.[22] He successfully expelled Islamist militants from Saudi Arabia.[23] On 19 July 2012, Prince Muqrin was relieved from his post and replaced by Bandar bin Sultan.[24] It was argued by media that Prince Muqrin had been criticized during his term due to his approach towards some sensitive issues.[25] On the other hand, Prince Muqrin was named advisor at the rank of minister and a special envoy to King Abdullah the same day.[24][26] His responsibility was stated to be the affairs in southeast Asia.[27]
Quote
Prince Muqrin played an active role in Pakistani politics during his term at the Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah.[18] After Pervez Musharraf's 1999 military coup on Nawaz Sharif, the Saudi government arranged a ten-year agreement with Pervez Musharraf to accept Nawaz Sharif as an exile.[28] Because of Benazir Bhutto's early return from exile and the upcoming 2008 elections, Sharif attempted to return to Pakistan in 2007 against the advice of Prince Muqrin.[29][30] However, Sharif was quickly deported from Pakistan and was greeted by Muqrin bin Abdulaziz at the Jeddah airport.[31] Prince Muqrin was also involved in political reconciliation efforts in Pakistan.[32][33]
On the other hand, Muqrin bin Abdulaziz and Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal were reported to be in favor of pushing the sanctions against Iran instead of military action as King Abdullah insisted.[34] However, Prince Muqrin also argued that Iran's interference in internal Gulf affairs, especially Iran's move in regard to nuclear arms, had very negative effects on the region and therefore, might cause an arms race among the Gulf states.[35]
Quote
Muqrin bin Abdulaziz is believed by many to be a liberal within the family.[23][46] However, letter exchanges regarding the Shia in the Eastern province illustrated an interesting opposition between him and late Crown Prince Nayef. The letters discussed how a situation involving Shia instigation in the Eastern Province should have been handled. In these exchanges, Prince Muqrin argued for a much stronger and harsher approach, but was vetoed by the late Crown Prince.[46]
It still reads like Merkin. I guess I'm not going to get past this very easily.
Yeah, I hear merkin in my head too.
Weirdness.
QuoteNew Hampshire native Christopher Cramer, 50, was found dead on Jan. 15 after a three-story tumble from the window of the Sahara Makarim Hotel in the city of Tabuk, where he was staying.
Cramer was in the region for Advance Defense Systems of Kollsman, providing technical assistance for a demonstration and sale of a TOW anti-armor missile system. His employer originally told family members that Cramer had committed suicide, a claim they immediately disputed, citing chilling messages begging for help that he sent to a friend just before his death.
"He called me three times that night and left me messages saying that he was in danger and to call the State Department," Cramer's friend and family attorney Noah Mandell told FoxNews.com. "He was there, he was in danger, and I believe he was killed.
source: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/01/28/mystery-surrounds-death-us-def-contract-worker-at-saudi-hotel/
I wonder if there is a clue to be found in who the weapon demo was for.
Sharif don't like it.
Says it's not kosher.
You know he really hates it!
That should be the GH Official Music Video.
I smell a remake featuring The Dirty Groggies. Or whatever we are.
BTW LB, I like your sig pic. Probably the best you've ever had. I'm not a big Aniston fan, but that pic is good.
Quote from: OJsDad on January 29, 2015, 08:52:04 AM
BTW LB, I like your sig pic. Probably the best you've ever had. I'm not a big Aniston fan, but that pic is good.
Ha!
Thanks. I just removed it as I was swapping avatars since nobody said anything!