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Arabia
World Leaders Pay Respects on Saudi Day of Mourning
2015-01-26
[AnNahar] More foreign leaders flocked to Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
 paying their respects to King Salman
...either the largest species of Pacific salmon or the current Sheikh of the Burnin' Sands, Cutodian of the Two Holy Mosquesand Lord of Most of the Arabians....
 on Sunday, as the normally gridlocked streets of Riyadh turned quiet during a day of mourning for his predecessor Abdullah.

The latest arrivals included Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani, Belgium's King Philippe, Libya's internationally-recognized Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani, and President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela.

From across the Arab and Moslem worlds, from Europe, Asia, and America, presidents, prime ministers and sheikhs have flown in to express condolences.

It is a recognition of the Islamic kingdom's power as the world's leading oil exporter, a political heavyweight in a region threatened by Lion of Islam violence, and as home to Islam's holiest sites.

Salman, 79, acceded to the throne on Friday after Abdullah's death at the age of about 90.

U.S. President Barack Obama
If you like your coverage you can keep it...
announced he would cut short a visit to India to travel to the kingdom on Tuesday.
Oh dear. Will our beloved president be late? Granted, Saudis have a very broad sense of on time, but to arrive days after the rest might nonetheless be frowned upon.
Saudi Arabia has long been a key United States ally and since last year has been part of the U.S.-led coalition carrying out air strikes against the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
 jihadist group.

Salman, a half-brother of Abdullah who reigned for almost a decade, declared Sunday a nationwide holiday "to provide comfort and facilitation to all citizens in offering condolences" and allegiance to the new monarch, the official Saudi Press Agency said.
Much more about those who came, and the dutifully sad subjects, at the link. One does wonder if there will be as much of a turnout the next time round, when so much more of the world will be producing their own oil.
Posted by:trailing wife

#2  I'm struggling with balance.
Is this gathering a bigger target than the SuperBowl?
Posted by: Skidmark   2015-01-26 11:17  

#1  I lived through the marches, riots, looting, and burning of the 1960's. I understand history rewritten, the veneration of those who fund world terrorism, racial division, and the overthrow of western culture. Let the dead bury the dead.
Posted by: Besoeker   2015-01-26 07:09  

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