Word: saudi
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Riches to Work. Unlike his profligate half-brother-ex-King Saud, whom he nudged aside in 1964 after Saud had all but bankrupted the country-Feisal is an energetic, reform-minded ruler determined to put Saudi Arabia's oil riches to work for the people. No sooner was he in power than he ordered free education and medical service for all Saudis, stepped up oil production and trimmed the country's budget. Today Saud's lavish, pink-walled Nasiriyah Palace in Riyadh-with an air-conditioning system said to be second in size only to the Pentagon...
...Saudi ways, as well. Feisal puts in a 20-hour day, personally studies every new government project, and deals harshly with loafers. For several days a few weeks ago, Information Minister Jamil Hujaylan stood pointedly at the door of his ministry building, clocking employees in and out. Even tougher is Feisal's able younger brother Prince Sultan, his 41-year-old Defense Minister, who recently demanded that Feisal fire fully 75% of the ministry workers for tardiness after the long hajj (pilgrimage) holiday this spring. As for anyone found taking a bribe, Sultan says he will personally demand...
...Shot of Lemon Squash. Even more far-reaching-though more subtle-is the social revolution overtaking Saudi Arabia. Many Saudi women now sport lipstick, eye shadow and slacks under their shapeless black shrouds and dark veils. Their daughters are going to school for the first time. Any student -male or female-who can win admission to a foreign university receives full expenses and a generous living allowance. Of his own eight sons, Feisal has sent the youngest seven abroad for schooling, including his bright, second oldest son Prince Mohamed bin Feisal, 29, the country's first royal prince ever...
...tolerated. Today almost every family has one, and last year Feisal even introduced television-though a heavily edited version in which Dodge City cowpokes swagger up to the bar and demand "a shot of lemon squash." Even the land's harsh justice is being relaxed-in a quiet Saudi way. Rather than being beheaded, murderers are simply shot nowadays. Thieves still may lose a hand; but it is first pumped with painkillers, the wrist is wrenched from the socket to avoid any broken bones, and the hand is amputated with sterilized instruments rather than with one grisly swipe...
...Nightly Raking. How far Feisal can go with his revolution will depend to some extent on the course that Gamal Abdel Nasser takes in the Middle East. For months the conflict in Yemen has kept Egypt and Saudi Arabia at loggerheads, and Cairo constantly mumbles threats of war. As a result, Feisal estimates that he must spend more than $1.5 billion for defense over the next five years. Money is no problem. This year Feisal expects to pump almost 1 billion bbl. of oil, worth $750 million to the government, which would put his country ahead of Kuwait...