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Saudi Arabia: A Kingdom on Life Support
(Globe and Mail-Canada) Mai Yamani - The death of Saudi Crown Prince Sultan at 86 marks the beginning of a critical period of domestic and foreign uncertainty for the kingdom. Sultan's half-brother, King Abdullah, 87, has been hospitalized in Riyadh following a major operation last month. The regime is aging and ailing, and is perceived by the population as being on life support. The Saudi regime's stability now depends on its ability to maintain unity and establish clarity in its system of succession. The ruling Al Saud have swelled to 22,000 members, which has given rise to factional clashes among increasingly numerous claimants to power. In addition, the challenge of managing princely privileges, salaries and jobs has never been more intense. Royal perks include lifetime sinecures and domination of the civil service, which enable the princes to award contracts and receive commissions on top of their salaries. Nothing guarantees a transition to a younger generation of leaders - or that an effective ruler will emerge.