Word: fahd
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...selling to foreign owners would be a last resort, since UPI is an American news company. Reuters and Agence France Presse might sneak across the borders, but the Scrippses felt offshore ownership would compromised the company's excellence. Today a Saudi group, including the brother-in-law of King Fahd owns UPI. But how can anyone complain? It beats the embezzlers whose hard time still makes the old Brit grin...
Saudi Arabia is a land rich in oil and privileged royal princes. Yet it is so tight for cash that Crown Prince Abdullah, who is running the show for the ailing King Fahd, has boldly cut the budget. And he is reportedly sending out "Abdullahgrams" to spendthrift nephews, demanding that they reverse their habit of ignoring telephone and electricity bills or face service cutoffs like ordinary Saudis...
...surprise of many, he is emerging as a bold and decisive leader, ready to put his stamp on domestic and foreign policies, though he cannot do so without the daily support of Fahd and other senior princes. The result is a change in presentation if not in policy: whereas Fahd has always been cunning and nonconfrontational, Abdullah has built a reputation for bluntness. Says an Arab diplomat in Washington: "Abdullah won't say to an American politician, 'Hey, buddy, let's talk about buying some of your planes,' just to make the guy feel good, with no intention of buying...
...excellent health, thanks to sensible eating and regular laps across his palace pool--he may be able to defuse the growing fundamentalist challenge to the Saudi monarchy, in part by expanding political power beyond the royal family. He is a strong supporter of the appointed Consultative Council, created by Fahd in 1993 to introduce limited public debate. In line with his distaste for corruption, Abdullah has initiated fiscal reforms designed to end the dubious dealings and royal patronage that have been a prime focus of the growing popular discontent. Besides cutting allowances provided to the estimated 6,000 Saudi princes...
Even if they are pleasantly impressed by Abdullah, many in Washington will continue to yearn for King Fahd. He was a monarch who seldom wavered in his friendship and almost never spoke out against the U.S., while Abdullah will more readily express Arab frustration with American policies such as support for Israel and the unilateral bombing of suspected terrorist facilities. "Under Fahd, we had a 'special relationship,'" says a Saudi official. "Now we may have 'special differences...