King Abdullah is dead

**Ciciro** · January 22, 2015, 05:38 PM

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud 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.
U.S. crude prices rose about 1.5 percent immediately after the news broke.
The succession to Salman was largely expected to be smooth. The Saudi royal family announced in March that 79-year-old Salman would succeed the king. Weeks ago, when King Abdullah was reported to be seriously ill, Saudi watchers told CNBC that the country's oil, domestic and geopolitical policies should remain virtually unchanged when Salman takes over.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102292477#.

Well that was a bit unexpected.

**Flavius Julius Nepos Augustus** · January 22, 2015, 05:43 PM

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Somebody will have a giggle.

But yeah never laugh with the dead of your enemy. How will the next one rule..maybe the last one...

statement from Syrian fbpage

"Now that the king of Saudi Arabia passed away, are we going to see a full democratic elections from the same people backed the killing of thousands in Syria under the name of democracy and human rights? Are the West and the US going to push for the freedom of the Saudi people in choosing their leader like they are doing in Syria?No, no one will see that, because simple its hypocrisy at its best."

**Derpy Hooves** · January 22, 2015, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by TWmodding

Are the West and the US going to push for the freedom of the Saudi people in choosing their leader like they are doing in Syria?No, no one will see that, because simple its hypocrisy at its best."

There has to be movement from the Saudi people before something like that could happen. If the people do start a movement, I would be totally behind them, just like I support the FSA.

**Flavius Julius Nepos Augustus** · January 23, 2015, 03:18 AM

Originally Posted by Char Aznable

just like I support the FSA.

Then you are believing in ghosts.

Here a cartoon about his support to the islamic front

**Treize** · January 22, 2015, 05:45 PM

Wonderful news.

Death to the wahhabi's.

**PikeStance** · January 22, 2015, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by Treize

Wonderful news.

Death to the wahhabi's.

Technically and actually no
He was only one. While an adherent of the ideology his power was rested on a mutual arraignment. In essence, the temporal leader died.

On another matter...
In geopolitics one dances or chooses to dance with the devil of their choice. There is no room for hypocrisy in an arena were self- interested pragmatism rules supreme.

**Dr. Croccer** · January 28, 2015, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by Treize

Wonderful news.

Death to the wahhabi's.

Not really. The Saudi monarchy has been pretty pro-reform under his leadership. He encouraged education, tackled Al-Qaeda and generally tried to limit the influence of the actual Wahhabist clerics who are responsible for most of the bad

that comes from that country. Let's hope Salman continues that instead of becoming a Wahhabi crony, which is considerably easier and safer.

**Diocle** · January 22, 2015, 05:45 PM

Wow!

.. the small country of the thosand little princes has lost the Big Boss! Interesting news!

Anyway yeah: death to the wahhabi's!

**Elemental** · January 22, 2015, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by Ciciro

Well that was a bit unexpected.

How so? The old dictator was quite old..

**paleologos** · January 22, 2015, 05:56 PM

"I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again
No, no!

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss"

**The Gurkhan** · January 22, 2015, 06:05 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRvAAYjmqkE

**Stavroforos** · January 22, 2015, 06:28 PM

I wish there was a succession crisis in Saudi.

**Papay** · January 22, 2015, 06:45 PM

The King is dead long live the king

**alhoon** · January 22, 2015, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by Papay

The King is dead long live the king

That.

http://news.yahoo.com/saudi-state-tv...232925751.html

"His strict upbringing was exemplified by three days he spent in prison as a young man as punishment by his father for failing to give his seat to a visitor, a violation of Bedouin hospitality."

You don't see that stuff anymore. I wish more politicians paid attention to their culture's and nation's ethics.

I like how he backed education and greater participation of women in life, but education will probably bring voices that demand the end of absolute monarchy, elections and a constitution that is above the King.