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SBD
Admiral
Joined: 19 Aug 2004
Posts: 1022
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 Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:31 am Post subject: King Fahd of Saudi Arabia dies |
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| Quote: | King Fahd of Saudi Arabia dies
King Fahd, Saudi Arabia's ruler since 1982, has died.
Saudi state television announced that Crown Prince Abdullah had been named as King Fahd's successor.
King Fahd had been frail since suffering a stroke a decade ago and had delegated the running of the kingdom's affairs to Crown Prince Abdullah.
Defence Minister Prince Sultan is next in line to the throne after Abdullah, and was named crown prince, state television announced.
Members of the royal family have already pledged allegiance to Abdullah. An official ceremony confirming him as the new king is due to be held on Wednesday.
'Sorrow and sadness'
"With all sorrow and sadness, the royal court in the name of his highness Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz and all members of the family announces the death of the servant of the two holy mosques, King Fahd bin Abdel Aziz," Minister of Information Iyad bin Amin Madani announced on state television.
"He died after suffering an illness. God now allows the custodian of the two holy mosques, King Fahd, with great mercy and forgiveness, to reside in his wide heaven."
The Associated Press news agency says the king died early on Monday at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in the capital, Riyadh, where he was admitted on 27 May for unspecified medical tests.
Absolute monarch
King Fahd ascended the throne in 1982 after seven years as crown prince, making him absolute monarch of the world's largest oil-producing country and home of Islam's two holiest sites, the mosques at Mecca and Medina.
He threw the weight of the kingdom behind Arab causes and was heavily involved in regional issues such as the search for a peaceful settlement to the Lebanese civil war which ended with an agreement signed in the kingdom.
The monarch's decision in 1990 to invite American forces into Saudi Arabia after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait was heavily criticised within the country.
Many say it contributed to the rise of al-Qaeda whose leader, Osama bin Laden, is a Saudi-born businessman.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/4734175.stm
Published: 2005/08/01 08:32:50 GMT
© BBC MMV |
SBD |
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PhantomSgt
Vice Admiral
Joined: 10 Sep 2004
Posts: 972
Location: GUAM, USA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:53 am Post subject: |
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The BBC seems to have left out the other notable achievements of King Fraud. His Kingdom's' support for terrorists and Whabbism throughout the Islamic world. The funds sent to fronts for terror and the fact most suicide attackers hail from the Saudi Universe.
The repression of other faiths and women in his Kingdom and the brutal punishments that befell his own people from the Religious Police.
Yeah I am really going to shed a tear now that this bad actor is dead. May you rot in hell your Highness.
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Retired AF E-8
Independent that leans right of center. |
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Navy_Navy_Navy
Admin
Joined: 07 May 2004
Posts: 5777
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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I just hope that what we end up having to deal with isn't worse than what we had.
Remember Syria. Hafez Assad ended up looking positively statesman-like after his son had been at the helm for a while. 
This is an opportunity to for the Saudi people to replace generations of corruption and oppression with something resembling democracy. I hope they grab it.
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~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother |
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GM Strong
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Joined: 18 Sep 2004
Posts: 1579
Location: Penna
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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He came from a small family of about 70 brothers and half-brothers so the selection is wide. They just have to figure out who is who.
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8th Army Korea 68-69 |
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JN173
Commander
Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 341
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Navy_Navy_Navy wrote: | I just hope that what we end up having to deal with isn't worse than what we had.
Remember Syria. Hafez Assad ended up looking positively statesman-like after his son had been at the helm for a while.
This is an opportunity to for the Saudi people to replace generations of corruption and oppression with something resembling democracy. I hope they grab it. |
Looks like there won't be any noticeable change.
| Quote: | By ADNAN MALIK
Associated Press Writer
August 1, 2005, 5:18 PM EDT
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- King Abdullah quickly assumed the Saudi throne Monday after the death of his long-ailing half brother, giving a smooth transition to the leadership of this key U.S. ally and oil giant already grappling with extremists and debating the need for reform. |
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A Grunt
2/503 173rd Airborne Brigade
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blue9t3
Admiral
Joined: 23 Aug 2004
Posts: 1246
Location: oregon
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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Ah, my freaking heart is breaking--I'm gona miss him next time I bust a hundred to fill up. 
Maybe we could all chip in and start a scholarship fund for 70 or 80 of his kids? 
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GM Strong
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Joined: 18 Sep 2004
Posts: 1579
Location: Penna
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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| blue9t3 wrote: | Ah, my freaking heart is breaking--I'm gona miss him next time I bust a hundred to fill up.
Maybe we could all chip in and start a scholarship fund for 70 or 80 of his kids? |
Not to worry, they have already received their top quality degrees from the best American Schools and while they were here they got in all booze, women, and partying they could before they had to return.
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8th Army Korea 68-69 |
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