The Game of Thrones analogy appears to hold in the complicated politics of the Middle East ….. but with more incest!
I know that you have all heard that old phrase, “Its complicated” before, correct?
Well, in the case of what is going on in Saudi Arabia, which includes the coming war with Lebanon and Iran, it is complicated.
Allow me, if I can, explain it in simple terms.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is 81 years old (ascended the throne in 2012 when his brother died), his time on the throne is almost over. His hand picked heir is Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Mohammad Salman was not originally the first in line for the throne, his brother Muhammad bin Nayef was (due not to age, but which of King Salman’s wives was his mother, Mohammad Salman is actually older), but Nayef did something unreported that cause King Salman to depose him and appoint Mohammad Salman as the new heir apparent on 21 June 2017. The former Crown Prince and heir apparent Muhammad bin Nayef survived four assassination attempts, the 2009 third attempt apparently seriously injured him, not that it was admitted in the press. He has reportedly acquired an addiction to pain medication but none the less commanded the forces of the Saudi Defence forces in the stalemated war against Iran’s surrogate the al Houthi in Yemen. He was also linked to the leaks of the Panama Papers and this did him no favours in maintaining his position as Crown Prince. He was deposed as Crown Prince by the current Defence Minister Prince Mohammad bin Salman in mid 2017.