Saudi King Abdullah dies

[bayonetbrant]

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.

[GDS_Starfury]

Im dont think I read the pre edited post.

[Greybriar]

According to this, 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.

[MikeGER]

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.

[bayonetbrant]

[Gusington]

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.

[LongBlade]

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.

[GDS_Starfury]

At first I read it as prince salami.

[Centurion40]

And Merkin too!

Thank heavens he doesn't a goatee!

[Centurion40]

There are rumours that King Salman has dementia.  Great.  ::)

[Centurion40]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muqrin_bin_Abdulaziz_Al_Saud

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]

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]

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]

[LongBlade]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muqrin_bin_Abdulaziz_Al_Saud

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]

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]

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.

[Centurion40]

Yeah, I hear merkin in my head too.

[LongBlade]

Weirdness.

New 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/

[Staggerwing]

I wonder if there is a clue to be found in who the weapon demo was for.