A Princely Rivalry: Clash Of The Titans?
Khalid bin Sultan's rising star
The career trajectory of Khalid bin Sultan, though derailed once, now seems unstoppable. He is without a doubt the most visible member of the royals, a figure in the news on a daily basis. Khalid is helped no doubt by his involvement in the ongoing hostilities on the southern border, which give him a media platform. Though the king remains hugely popular, as reflected in the results of a recent poll which put him at the top of a list of Arab leaders in terms of popularity, the Yemen conflict has captured the nation's attention, and Khalid is its spokesman. An inspiring figure, he gives almost daily briefings to the press, and his frequent tours of the war zone (three in the last month alone) ensure his contiuned prominence in the news cycle. Armed conflict is always lapped up by the media, but the fact that Khalid is already well known, and warmly remembered as the Commander of Desert Storm, gives him even more star appeal.
Vying for attention is another prince of the same generation, the king's son Mit'ib. A prospective candidate for succession, he is working hard to establish his own prominence in the face of Khalid's campaign. A recent trip to Kuwait, where Mit'ib met with that country's military leadership, was well promoted in the press, and he returned to more media coverage with several ceremonial functions related to his work with SANG. Mit'ib, too, benefits from the fact that he is an established figure with some prominence. He also inherits his father's prestige, as well as the status that comes with his leadership of the Guard. He appears, however, too have realized too late the power of the media, and is struggling to catch up. With Khalid milking the press attention for all it is worth, the two give almost the appearance of campaigning for office.
In fact, the analogy of running for political office is not too far-fetched. In choosing a leader, whether a tribal shaykh or a king, Saudi tradition has always relied on a number of factors, including the personal, less tangible, attributes of the candidate. Can the proposed leader inspire, provide a vision, rally the people around a cause? Does he have the charisma to win over his rivals and settle differences? In this, one can only be judged on the perceptions formed by others, based on one's actions. But in a media-driven age, a carefully-constructed persona can be submitted for consideration, one crafted to present the desired image. Still, for those without an intimate relationship, this cannot help but figure in their assessment.
In the new reality, Khalid has taken the lead, benefitting from the role on the national stage he plays. His position allows him to meet with foreign dignitaries, travel to Washington, and take part in contract negotiations for weapons procurement. Other, equally senior and capable princes of his generation, such as Eastern Region Governor Muhammad bin Fahd, have the disadvantage of a more local association. By comparison, only Khalid al-Faysal, the Makkah Amir, overcomes this handicap, by virtue of his connection to the Holy Places. Muhammad bin Nayif, prominent for his Security role, likewise draws from a broader base of appeal.
There is another, perhaps insurmountable, obstacle facing Mit'ib, however. The Kingdom's battle against the "insurgents" in the south is a in reality an all-out war with al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), as it tries to establish a foothold in Yemen. The Saudis have poured billions in aid into the collapsing state, and Special Forces teams are working deep undercover to root out AQAP leadership there. The royals are only too aware that the overthrow of the Al Saud dynasty is the ultimate prize, and Khalid bin Sultan's war on the southern border is life or death, a battle for the heart and soul of the Kingdom. Framed in nationalistic and religious terms for the public, what takes place in Yemen trumps all, and victory there will not go unrewarded.
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War, Peace and Politics - The Royal Family and Palestine (Part II)
After the death of the first Saudi king, Abd al-Aziz, his son Saud took the throne. Despite taking the Palestinian issue to heart, the new monarch was unable to ever fully comprehend the depth of American support for Israel. In the end, Saud's weak leadership, disinterest, and lack of regional clout frustrated his scattered and unfocused efforts at resolution. |
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War, Peace and Politics - The Royal Family and Palestine (Part I)
The October 7 surprise attack on Israel by Hamas, and the resulting war this precipitated, has exposed the shortcomings of the Abraham Accords. Further, the lack of available arrows in the Saudi diplomatic quiver highlights the failure of decades-long efforts to reach a meaningful consensus on the issue of Palestinian statehood. Yet, starting with the reign of the Kingdom's founder, Abd al-Aziz, solidarity with Palestine and opposition to the Zionist project has been a core tenet of the royal identity. |
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Stage Management: Spectacles, Sidelining And Dissent
Even as the Kingdom takes steps towards cultural liberalization, an intense crackdown on activists and political dissidents continues unabated. Can the attempt to change its international image be reconciled with the extraordinary sentences being handed down by the courts? |
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A Royal in Morocco: The Strange Case of Princess Fahda al-Hithlayn
News of the lavish Moroccan holiday of Fahda, the wife of Saudi King Salman, seems to fly in the face of widespread reports of her supposed captivity on the orders of her own son, the crown prince. Was the sensational allegation by foreign intelligence agencies flawed, or has a family reconciliation taken place? |
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Reform, Crackdown and Succession: Continuity or Disruption?
As the crown prince and de facto regent Muhammad bin Salman presses ahead with an ambitious program of social and structural reforms, it is often assumed that he is pursuing a radically vision than that preferred by his more conservative father, King Salman. A closer look, however, reveals that the two are in fact closely aligned. |