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Arabia
King Fahd reshuffles Saudi cabinet
2005-02-09
Saudi Arabia's King Fahd has sacked his education and social affairs ministers in a cabinet reshuffle that also saw the pilgrimage and cultural ministers swapping portfolios. A royal decree on Tuesday dismissed Education Minister Muhammad Ahmad al-Rashid and replaced him with Abd Allah bin Salih al-ubaid, chairman of Saudi Arabia's human rights watchdog.
And many's the time we've heard him woof...
Also fired was Social Affairs Minister Ali bin Ibrahim Namla, who was replaced with Abd al-Muhsin bin Abd al-Aziz al-Akkas, a former boss of the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.
That's kind of a hopeful sign...
Culture and Information Minister Fuad Abd al-Sallam Muhammad Farsi and Pilgrimage Minister Iyad bin Amin Madani also swapped portfolios. No explanation was given for the cabinet reshuffle, which was the second in the oil-rich desert country since April, 2004. The last ministerial change took place when the labour and social affairs portfolio was split into two ministries. King Fahd also carried out a reshuffle in 2003, bringing in five new faces in the ministry.
I don't know enough to have an opinion. To me, it's just a reshuffle among the princelings...
Posted by:Fred

#7  Sea - Wasta is Saudi-style influence, power, connections, stroke, etc. Being from a connected clan, i.e. allied to a Royal or where a clan head is a protégé of a Royal. Instant protection, preference, fawning, immunity from grief, and power. Business opportunities magically appear, special deals are suddenly offered, the whole shebang of being somebody as we know it - only on steroids, heh.
Posted by: .com   2005-02-09 7:02:48 PM  

#6  I curse your watchdog's moustache!
Posted by: Frank G   2005-02-09 12:26:24 PM  

#5  So is it a grievous, humilliating insult to call a Muslim a watchdog?
Posted by: 11A5S   2005-02-09 12:17:04 PM  

#4  .com, I agree. Note that it was the Education Minister. All in all, a minor reshuffle with some reform potential. Now if only Nayef would have a terrible auto accident.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2005-02-09 11:56:29 AM  

#3  .com, what is "Wasta?"
Posted by: Seafarious   2005-02-09 11:16:10 AM  

#2  Title should read:
King Fahd reshuffles Deck Chairs on Titanic Saudi cabinet
Posted by: Spot   2005-02-09 9:19:28 AM  

#1  I'm not sure either, but I have two minor observations:

1) Fahd didn't do diddley-squat, except drool, I'd wager. CP Abdullah made these moves, IMHO.

2) An Al Rashid was canned. That's a surprise of the first order - the Al Rashid Clan has mucho beaucoup wasta, as non-Royal clans go. Maybe this means that they are allied to the Sudairi Clan, and Abdullah is replacing Sudairi supporters with Shammar Clan supporters. I dunno, but there is someone I could ask who might know.

CP Abdullah and the Sudairi Seven are all getting along in years, this might be something he's doing for whomever is to follow... removing threats or independent-minded operators and loose cannons, etc. - or just preempting for his own clan to stay in power. Power is the name of the game, not some Western notion of nation or unity or other sentimental drivel, heh.
Posted by: .com   2005-02-09 7:25:15 AM  

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